On Tuesday afternoon, the NCAA officially released the accepted field for the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as both the CSU Pueblo men's and women's squads will send a talented group of athletes to Emporia, Kansas, for the national meet held May 21-23 on the campus of Emporia State University.

Fresh off another dominant season under head coach Matt Morris, the ThunderWolves once again enter the national championships as one of the premier middle-distance and distance programs in Division II, highlighted by several athletes who enter the meet among the national favorites in their respective events.

Leading the charge on the women's side is Helen Braybrook, who enters the women's 1500 meters with the fastest qualifying time in Division II at 4:17.48. The reigning CSU Pueblo Female Athlete of the Year and three-time national champion has continued to build one of the most decorated careers in program history after helping lead the ThunderWolves to a national championship in the indoor distance medley relay earlier this year.

Joining Braybrook in the women's 1500 meters is Jadyn Herron, who qualified with the fifth-fastest time in the country at 4:19.49. Herron has been one of the nation's top all-around distance runners throughout the season and will look to add another All-American performance to her résumé.

Charlotte Young will represent the Pack in the women's 800 meters after qualifying with a time of 2:07.04, ranking 11th nationally entering the meet. Young earned All-American honors during the indoor season and has remained one of the RMAC's premier half-milers throughout the outdoor campaign.

In the field events, defending indoor national champion Febe Wessels qualified in the women's shot put with the fifth-best mark in the nation at 15.71 meters. Wessels captured the NCAA Division II indoor national championship earlier this season and now looks to carry that momentum outdoors in pursuit of another national podium finish.

Sophomore All-American Keturah Templeman will also make the trip to Emporia after qualifying in the women's javelin with a mark of 46.98 meters, good for 12th nationally entering the championships. Templeman has been one of the top throwers in the RMAC throughout the spring season and will look to continue her success on the national stage.

On the men's side, CSU Pueblo will once again showcase one of the nation's elite middle-distance groups.

Tim Anstett qualified for the men's 800 meters with a time of 1:47.51, entering nationals with the fifth-fastest seed time in Division II. Anstett has been one of the top 800-meter runners in the country all season long after earning All-American honors during the indoor season.

Sophomore standout Caleb McLeod punched his ticket to nationals in the men's 1500 meters after running 3:41.89, the sixth-fastest qualifying time in the country. McLeod has continued his breakout campaign after a stellar indoor season that saw him emerge as one of the top young middle-distance runners in Division II.

Jon Sweepe will represent the ThunderWolves in the men's 5000 meters after qualifying with a time of 13:49.98, ranking 10th nationally entering the championship meet. Sweepe has enjoyed a historic sophomore campaign after breaking school records during the indoor season and becoming one of the top distance runners in program history.

In the field events, Xavier Freeman enters the NCAA Championships as one of the national title contenders in the men's shot put. Freeman qualified with a mark of 18.72 meters, the third-best throw in Division II this season. The junior All-American has consistently been among the nation's top throwers throughout the outdoor season and will look to cap off his year with a national podium finish.

The NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships officially begin Thursday, May 21, and conclude Saturday, May 23, as the ThunderWolves look to once again leave their mark on the national stage against the top athletes in Division II.