LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The Wartburg College outdoor track and field teams opened competition at the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships with four All-American performances and multiple event finalists advancing to finals.

Abby Veld earned Second Team All-America honors in the women's discus, while AJ Wright secured Second-Team in the 200-meter dash and Isaiah Hammerand and Ander Julian each secured First Team All-America accolades in the men's 10,000-meter run to highlight the opening day for the Knights.

Veld placed 11th nationally in the women's discus with a throw of 43.73 meters (143-5), collecting her second career NCAA Outdoor All-America honor in the event. The senior will return to action Friday in the women's shot put competition.

In the men's 10,000-meter run finals, Hammerand crossed the line fifth overall in 29:27.04 to score four team points, while Julian earned a personal-best time of 29:48.66 to finish eighth and add another point to the Wartburg total. Both runners claimed First Team All-America recognition with their top-eight finishes.

The Knights also advanced several athletes and relay squads into championship finals. JoJo Tyynismaa qualified for Saturday's finals in the women's 400-meter hurdles after posting the second-fastest qualifying time at 59.41, narrowly missing the program record. Tyynismaa later helped the women's 4x400-meter relay team of Natalie Bork, Olivia Tollari, Haley Meyer and Tyynismaa qualify for Saturday's finals with the eighth-fastest overall time.

In the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, Lance Sobaski delivered the top preliminary performance of the day, cruising to the fastest qualifying time in 8:50.82 - more than five seconds ahead of the field. Aidan Decker added a 17th-place finish in 9:11.19.

The women's heptathlon duo of Grace Braden and Caitlin Benesh opened competition Thursday. Braden posted the top overall time in the 100-meter hurdles at 14.06 and later recorded a personal-best mark in the shot put at 11.13 meters (36-6.25). Through three events, Braden sits 20th with 2,308 points, while Benesh ranks 21st with 1,978 points after recording a personal-best clearance of 1.53 meters (5-0.25) in the high jump.

AJ Wright turned in a 21.55 time to secure Second-Team All-American status with a 13th place finish in the 200-meter dash. Wright gains his inaugural outdoor season honor, as he garnered Second-Team accolades in the 60-meter dash during the indoor season. 

Additional performances included AJ Wright placing 13th in the men's 200-meter dash at 21.54, Maddie Merna finishing 19th in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase at 11:00.11, and the men's 4x400-meter relay team of Cade Olson, Ben Roussell, Hutton Edney and Alex Kerr taking 13th in 3:13.05.

On the men's side, the Knights secured five total team points on the day to sit tied for 10th, as Wisconsin-Oshkosh leads with 25. The Wartburg women
Wartburg resumes competition Friday, May 22, with events beginning at 10 a.m.
 
2026 NCAA DIV. III ALL-AMERICANS

• Abby Veld, Second Team, Discus (11th)
• AJ Wright, Second Team, 200m (13th)
• Isaiah Hammerand, First Team, 10000m (5th)
• Ander Julian, First Team, 10000m (8th)

**Individuals who place 1-8 earn First-Team recognition and 9-16 for Second-Team - Relays garner First-Team honors placing 1-8, and 9-10 for Second-Team**