LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The Wartburg College outdoor track and field teams added five more All-America honors Friday on day two of the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, highlighted by senior Lance Sobaski's national runner-up finish in the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Sobaski led much of the race before finishing second nationally in a time of 8:41.35, earning First-Team All-America honors in one of the fastest steeplechase races in NCAA Division III Championship history. UW-La Crosse's Joey Sullivan claimed the national title in 8:39.22, while Sobaski's mark also came in under the previous meet record standard.

Alongside Sobaski, Ema Roberts, Haley Meyer, Ben Frazier and JoJo Tyynismaa each collected All-America recognition in their respective events.

Through two days of competition, the Wartburg men sit sixth in the team standings with 13 points heading into Championship Saturday, while the women have totaled 1.5 points through eight scored events.

Grace Braden concluded competition in the women's heptathlon, recording a top long jump mark of 5.21 meters (17-1.25) to place 16th in the event portion. Braden finished 19th overall in the heptathlon with 3,292 points. Caitlin Benesh did not finish.

In the women's shot put, Abby Veld recorded a throw of 12.35 meters on her second preliminary attempt to finish 20th nationally.

Roberts earned First-Team All-America honors in the women's high jump after clearing 1.67 meters (5-5.75) to tie for seventh place overall. The senior cleared each of her opening three heights before narrowly missing at 1.70 meters, adding 1.5 team points for the Knights.

The Wartburg men's 4x100-meter relay team of AJ Wright, Jordan Cleaves, Noah Schmidgall and Alex Kerr advanced to Saturday's finals after clocking in at 40.74 in preliminary action, as the eighth-fastest time in the field.

Haley Meyer secured Second-Team All-America status in the women's 800-meter run, placing 10th overall in 2:10.44. Meyer narrowly missed qualifying for Saturday's final by just .32 seconds and will return to compete in the women's 4x400-meter relay championship race.

Nathan Ahern punched his ticket to Saturday's finals in the men's 800-meter run after a strong closing lap propelled him to a qualifying time of 1:50.31, the sixth-fastest mark in preliminaries.

In the women's 100-meter hurdles, both Tyynismaa and Braden advanced to Championship Saturday. Tyynismaa posted the seventh-fastest qualifying time at 14.19, while Braden followed closely with a 14.29 to earn the ninth and final qualifying spot.

Tyynismaa later added another All-America accolade in the women's 100-meter dash, finishing 15th overall in 11.96 to garner Second-Team honors.

On the men's side of the 100-meter dash, Ben Frazier earned his first career outdoor All-America distinction with a 15th-place finish in 10.55. Wright placed 18th nationally in a loaded sprint field with a time of 10.62.

Wartburg returns to Veterans Memorial Stadium on Saturday for the final day of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. Trent Polley will open competition for the Knights in the men's javelin at 11 a.m.

The Knights will also compete in the men's 4x100-meter relay, women's 100-meter hurdles, men's 800-meter run, women's 400-meter hurdles, men's 5,000-meter run and women's 4x400-meter relay as Wartburg looks to close the national meet with additional All-America performances and national titles.

NCAA OUTDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS RECAP (DAY ONE)
 
 
2026 NCAA DIV. III ALL-AMERICANS (9)

• Abby Veld, Second Team, Discus (11th)
• AJ Wright, Second Team, 200m (13th)
• Isaiah Hammerand, First Team, 10000m (5th)
• Ander Julian, First Team, 10000m (8th)
• Ema Roberts, First Team, High Jump (7th)
• Haley Meyer, Second Team, 800m (10th)
• Ben Frazier, Second Team, 100m (15th)
• JoJo Tyynismaa, Second Team, 100m (15th)
• Lance Sobaski, First Team, 3000m Steeplechase (National Runner-Up)