EUGENE, Ore. – American Conference student-athletes enjoyed a string of successful performances at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which were held from June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene.

The top showing by an American representative was turned in by Rice women’s javelin standout Mckyla Van der Westhuizen on June 11. In her final throw of the competition, Van der Westhuizen posted a personal best effort and a conference record mark of 60.87m (199-8.0) to capture her first career national championship and 10 team points for the Owls. Van der Westhuizen became the first women’s outdoor track & field national champion in conference history, and joined former Cincinnati standout and 2024 Olympic Games silver medalist Annette Echikunwoke, the 2017 NCAA DI indoor weight throw event winner, as American women’s national champions in the sport. Van der Westhuizen also earned first-team All-America honors (places first-eighth in finals events) for the third straight NCAA Outdoor Championships with her event victory.

The top American men’s finisher during the national meet was Tulane’s Silas Kiptanui, who entered the competition ranked third in the country in the men’s 3000-meter steeplechase. Kiptanui, the conference record holder in the distance, secured national runner-up plaudits in the steeplechase final on June 12 with a time of 8:18.20 to score second-place team points for the Green Wave. Kiptanui’s second place run was the best individual finish by an American men’s track athlete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships since 2023 and the best NCAA 3000 steeplechase finish by a men’s athlete in conference history.

The third first team All-America performance by an American athlete at the NCAA Outdoor Championships was logged by UTSA men’s triple jumper Jemuel Miller, who qualified for the event final on June 12 ranked 11th in the nation. Miller improved on that standing with a third round attempt of 16.45m (53-11.75) at the NCAA meet to finish in sixth place, clinching his first career outdoor first team All-America scroll. Miller’s performance was the fourth top-eight NCAA finish in men’s triple jump in conference history.

A combined total of 27 individual athletes and relay team members representing the American qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships following competition at NCAA first round sites last month. Along with the three first-team All-America honorees, an additional 14 American athletes posted finishes between ninth and 16th place in their respective events to close the season as a second team All-American.

East Carolina
(M) 4x100 Relay – 39.05, 14th Place (Second Team All-America)
Kailey Elliott (W) 100mH – 13.19, 21st Place (Honorable Mention All-America)

North Texas
Aariyana Williams (W) 400m – 52.31, 21st Place (Honorable Mention All-America)
Olu Williams (M) Discus – 59.90m (196-6.0), 11th Place (Second Team All-America)

Rice
Jack Greaves (M) Javelin – 68.02m (223-2.0), 20th Place (Honorable Mention All-America)
Ty Hampton (M) Javelin – 66.33m (217-7.0), 22nd Place (Honorable Mention All-America)
Julia Johannesdottir (W) 100mH – 13.33, 23rd Place (Honorable Mention All-America)
Alice Taylor (W) Heptathlon – 5490 Points, 21st Place (Honorable Mention All-America)
Mckyla Van der Westhuizen (W) Javelin – 60.87m (199-8.0), NATIONAL CHAMPION (First Team All-America)

South Florida
(M) 4x100 relay – 39.16, 15th Place (Second Team All-America)
(M) 4x400 relay – 3:02.14, 9th Place (Second Team All-America)
Jaleel Croal (M) 200m - 20.66, 17th Place (Honorable Mention All-America)

Tulane
Silas Kiptanui (M) 3000m Steeplechase – 8:18.20, National Runner-Up (First Team All-America)

Tulsa
Sara Morefield (W) 3000m Steeplechase – 9:46.31, 14th Place (Second Team All-America)

UTSA
Ida Breigan (W) Long Jump – 6.34m (20-9.75), 15th Place (Second Team All-America)
Martin Kouyoumdjian (M) 400m – 46.05, 18th Place (Honorable Mention All-America)
Jemuel Miller (M) Triple Jump – 16.45m (53-11.75), 6th Place (First Team All-America)
Daisy Monie (W) Shot Put – 16.24m (53-3.50), 19th Place (Honorable Mention All-America)

Wichita State
Jelese Alexander (W) High Jump – 1.79m (5-10.50), 19th Place (Honorable Mention All-America)
Jason Parrish (M) 400mH – 49.77, 11th Place (Second Team All-America)
Josh Parrish (M) 110mH – 13.52, 18th Place (Honorable Mention All-America); (M) Long Jump - 7.26m (23-10.0), 20th Place (Honorable Mention All-America)