25 SAC Student-Athletes to Compete at Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – The South Atlantic Conference will be represented by 25 student-athletes from six member institutions at the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, scheduled for May 21-23 in Emporia, Kan.

South Atlantic Conference schools represented at the national championship meet include Wingate University, Tusculum University, Catawba College, Anderson University, Carson-Newman University and Newberry College.

Wingate leads the SAC with 10 student-athletes and 11 individual event selections. Abigail Bester qualified in the 5,000-meter run, while Evie Brooks earned national bids in both the 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter runs. Sira Bo and Karlijn Mesman qualified in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Hoyane Esper qualified in the 400-meter hurdles and Dounia Routbi qualified in the 100-meter hurdles. Field event qualifiers include Assiya Elhafyan in the high jump, Ally Holmberg in the long jump and Amber Lawless in the shot put.

Tusculum qualified four student-athletes, seven individual event selections and a berth in the 4x100-meter relay. Qitarah Castlin qualified in the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash, while Jahzara Hart also earned bids in both sprint events. Shanice Cox qualified in the 100-meter dash and Kori Moore earned national selections in the 100-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash. All four will also compete on the Pioneers' nationally qualified 4x100-meter relay team.

Catawba will send two student-athletes to the national championships. Eden Barnwell qualified in the 800-meter run, while Madison Clay earned national bids in both the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter runs.

Anderson's Kennedy Roush qualified for the NCAA Championships in the 10,000-meter run after posting a national qualifying mark during the outdoor season.

Carson-Newman will be represented by Lovelyne Larrame in the 400-meter dash.

Newberry qualified one student-athlete for the NCAA Championships as Cassidy Bouchard earned a national berth in the 400-meter hurdles.

The NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships begin Thursday, May 21, and conclude Saturday, May 23, at Emporia State University in Emporia, Kansas.