MW Track and Field 6/9/2026 8:15:00 PM Tyler McDonough, Assistant Director of Sports Communications

CSU Pueblo Women's Program Finishes Fourth in NCAA Division II USTFCCCA Program of the Year Standings

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – After another season of national success across cross country and track & field, the CSU Pueblo women's program earned a fourth-place finish in the final NCAA Division II USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings, as announced by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award honors the institution that achieves the highest level of success across the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons during a single academic year. To be eligible, programs must qualify for all three NCAA Championships, with scoring determined by each team's finish at the national championships. The lowest combined point total determines the final standings.

CSU Pueblo finished fourth among all NCAA Division II women's programs with 27.5 total points, trailing only West Texas A&M (12), Colorado School of Mines (14.5) and Pittsburg State (16). The ThunderWolves were one of just 16 women's programs nationally to score in all three championship seasons.

The Pack opened the year with a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Cross Country National Championships before placing fourth at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. CSU Pueblo then capped the season with a 13th-place finish at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships to secure its place among the nation's elite programs. Those championship finishes resulted in 10 points from cross country, four points from indoor track & field and 13.5 points from outdoor track & field for a final score of 27.5.

The indoor season proved to be one of the finest in program history. Colorado State University Pueblo opened the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships in historic fashion as the ThunderWolves women's distance medley relay team successfully defended its national championship while breaking the NCAA Division II record with a time of 11:08.20 at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.

The quartet of Jadyn Herron, Gabrielle Dunich, Charlotte Young and Helen Braybrook delivered a dominant performance in the championship race, leading CSU Pueblo to its second consecutive national title in the event while lowering the previous NCAA Division II record. The ThunderWolves also claimed an individual national championship as Febe Wessels captured the NCAA Division II Indoor Shot Put title with a throw of 16.25 meters, vaulting from seventh place to first on her penultimate attempt and giving CSU Pueblo two national titles during the indoor championship meet.

The momentum carried into the outdoor season, where the ThunderWolves produced another strong showing on the national stage. Helen Braybrook earned national runner-up honors in the 1,500 meters, while Jadyn Herron finished fifth in the event. Wessels added another All-America performance with a national runner-up finish in the shot put, helping the Pack secure a top-15 team finish at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships.

Under the direction of head coach Matt Morris, the ThunderWolves continued to establish themselves as one of the premier programs in NCAA Division II. The fourth-place national finish reflects a season highlighted by national championships, record-breaking performances and numerous All-America honors across all three championship seasons.