EMPORIA, Kan. – Championship Saturday proved to be another memorable day for Colorado State University Pueblo Track and Field, as the ThunderWolves closed out competition at the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships with a national title, multiple national runner-up finishes, and several First Team All-American performances at Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University.
The ThunderWolves women's team finished 13th nationally with 20 points, while the men's team placed 15th nationally with 18 points following three days of competition against the nation's top Division II programs.
On the women's side, West Texas A&M University captured the NCAA Division II National Championship by just 0.8 points over Pittsburg State University in one of the closest finishes in championship history. On the men's side, Grand Valley State University secured the national title by five points over Pittsburg State.
The headline moment of the day came in the men's 1,500-meter run as sophomore Caleb McLeod delivered a national championship performance to keep the title in Pueblo for a second straight season. McLeod crossed the line in 3:49.25 to capture the NCAA Division II National Championship after fighting through traffic and battling out of being boxed in entering the final lap.
Despite sitting in sixth place late in the race, McLeod found another gear over the final 400 meters, surging past the field with a dominant closing kick to secure the victory and score 10 points for the ThunderWolves.
The title marks the second straight season the ThunderWolves have claimed the NCAA Division II men's 1,500-meter national championship after former Pack standout Reece Sharman-Newell captured the crown in 2025 before graduating from CSU Pueblo and continuing his career at Texas A&M University.
The day began with another tremendous performance from senior thrower Febe Wessels, who closed out her illustrious career in Pueblo with a national runner-up finish in the women's shot put. Wessels uncorked a personal-best throw of 15.94 meters (52-3 ¾) on her fifth attempt of the competition to finish second nationally and earn First Team All-American honors.
Wessels scored eight points for the ThunderWolves and added another All-American finish to one of the most decorated throwing careers in program history.
In the women's javelin, sophomore Keturah Templeman made her second straight NCAA Outdoor National Championship appearance, finishing 19th nationally with a top throw of 43.08 meters (141-4). Templeman returned to the national stage after earning All-American honors as a freshman last season and continues to establish herself among the nation's top young throwers.
The women's 1,500-meter run saw two ThunderWolves finish inside the top five nationally as seniors Helen Braybrook and Jadyn Herron both earned First Team All-American honors in the final collegiate races of their careers.
Braybrook capped off one of the greatest careers in CSU Pueblo athletics history with a national runner-up finish, crossing the line in 4:20.11 to score eight points for the Pack. The senior concludes her historic ThunderWolves career with four NCAA Division II national championships and five national runner-up finishes before moving on to the professional ranks.
Herron also closed out a decorated CSU Pueblo career in impressive fashion, placing fifth nationally in 4:21.32 to score four points for the ThunderWolves. A two-time national champion during her career, Herron added another All-American performance to her resume while helping the Pack place two runners inside the top five nationally in the event.
On the men's side, junior Xavier Freeman delivered one of the most clutch moments of the afternoon in the men's shot put. Freeman entered his final attempt sitting outside of second place before unleashing a massive throw of 18.69 meters (61-4) on his sixth and final throw to jump into the national runner-up position.
The mark earned Freeman First Team All-American honors, scored eight points for the ThunderWolves, and capped off a breakout junior season for the Pueblo native.
The national championships concluded later Saturday evening with sophomore Jon Sweepe competing in the grueling men's 5,000-meter run. Sweepe battled through one of the toughest distance events of the weekend, finishing 17th nationally with a time of 14:26.09 in his first NCAA Outdoor National Championship final appearance.
The ThunderWolves conclude another successful national championship meet with a national title, multiple podium finishes, and several All-American performances as CSU Pueblo once again showcased itself among the premier programs in NCAA Division II track and field.
