Thursday, April 30-Saturday, May 2 | A-R-C Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium | Pella, Iowa | Central College
Schedule | Live Stream | Live Results

The Knights are prepared to compete at the 2026 American Rivers Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships on April 30 (Thu) - May 2 (Sat) in Pella.

Last season, the Wartburg men's track and field team won their 13th Outdoor American Rivers Conference Championship with 233.25 points. Wartburg (HC: Marcus Newsom) won the coaching staff of the year. The Wartburg women's track and field team won their 25th Outdoor American Rivers Conference Championship with 245 points. Ava Vance won rookie of the year. Wartburg (HC: Marcus Newsom) won the coaching staff of the year. 

The Knights will have many returning competitors competing in these select events for this year's Championships.

2025 Returning Champions
Men: Lance Sobaski, 3000m steeplechase
Women: Caitlin Benesh, Heptathlon; Haley Meyer, 800m; Sophia Stahle, 400m hurdles; Grace Braden, 100m hurdles; 4x800m; 4x400m

2025 Returning Additional All-Conference Finishers
Men: Trent Polley, Javelin Throw; Isaiah Hammerand, 10000m; Nathan Kinzer, 1500m; Rylan Martin, 800m; 4x800m; 4x400m; 4x100m
Women: Olivia Tollari, long jump; Abby Veld; discus; Ava Vance, 10000m; Maddie Merna; 3000m steeplechase; Ryann Decker, 400m hurdles, 100m hurdles; JoJo Tyynismaa, 200m; 4x100m

NATIONAL RANKINGS
The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released its week five national polls on Tuesday, Apr. 28 with the men's team No. 10 and the women's team slated at No. 11

The men's team has 138.51 total points and the women's team has 129.94 total points.

A-R-C Teams in Top 25
Men
Central- 5
Wartburg- 10
Nebraska Wesleyan- 12
Loras- 23

Women
Wartburg- 11
Loras- 14
Central- 15

LAST TIME OUT
The Knights competed last week at the Drake Relays in Des Moines and at the Kip Janvrin Open in Indianola. Grace Braden (4827 points) and Caitlin Benesh (4657 points) put together historic performances in the heptathlon at the Drake Relays. Grace Braden and Caitlin Benesh now hold the top two spots on the program's top 10 list in the heptathlon. Senior Trent Polley topped the podium in the men's javelin throw with a mark of 60.05 meters in the University/College division at the Drake Relays. The men's and women's shuttle hurdle relay team concluded the weekend at the Drake Relays for the Knights in record-breaking fashion. On the women's side, the quartet of Grace Braden, JoJo Tyynismaa, Ryann Decker, and Caitlin Bensh clocked a school-record 58.05. The men followed suit, as Weston Johnson, Austin Rindels, Seneca Molstre, and Mitchell Dust posted a program-best 1:00.59. 

2026 OUTDOOR SEASON MEET RECAPS
UCM Invite (Mar 20)
WashU Distance Carnival Day One (Mar 26)
WashU Distance Carnival Day Two/Wash U Invite Day One (Mar 27)
WashU Invite Day Two (Mar 28)
UW-Platteville Invite/Mount Mercy Open Day One (Apr 10)
Mount Mercy Open Day Two (Apr 11)
UW-La Crosse Phil Esten Challenge/Dutch WeatherSaver Invitational 2.0/ESU Relays (Apr 16)
Augustana Meet of Champions Day One (Apr 17)
Augustana Meet of Champions Day Two (Apr 18)
Wartburg Traingular (Apr 21)
Drake Relays Day Two (Apr 23)
Drake Relays Day Three/Kip Janvrin Open Day One (Apr 24)
Drake Relays Day Four/Kip Janvrin Open Day Two (Apr 25)