GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Alauna Carstens (Jr., So. in indoor track) from The Evergreen State College earned third placed in the women's 3,000-meter run at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, March 1. Carstens recorded a time of 9:43.40 and claimed All-America honors at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center.

"I'm so proud of Alauna!" said Evergreen Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joel Pearson. "After her epic fall marathon victory, she bounced back with personal records in the mile, 3k, and indoor 5k. Heading into NAIA Nationals, we knew that it would be a slow start and a very fast last mile. She did just that! Third at nationals is awesome!"

Evergreen finished in 18th place in the women's team standings with 16 points. It was the best finish this season by a Cascade Collegiate Conference women's team.

On Saturday, the women's 3,000-meter run was won by Ellen-Mary Kearney from Milligan University (Tenn.) with a time of 9:38.57. Defending champion Hannah Fredericks of The Master's University (Calif.) was second in 9:39.78. After Carstens grabbed third place, Sharon Jemeli from University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) took fourth place in 9:46.77. Katie Clarke from Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) placed fifth at 9:48.56. A total of 12 runners competed in the final, with the top eight earning All-America status.

The top five finishers were in a lead group for most of the 3,000-meter championship race. Each of the five runners held the lead at some point. Carstens was in front before Kearney put on a strong finish over the final 300 meters.

"Alauna raced with so much heart today," Evergreen Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Katie Burnett noted. "You can't control how other people race, and seeing her take the lead and run her race made me so proud. Third place is awesome and there's more to come!"

With Saturday's All-America performance, Carstens has gained All-America recognition during four different championship events. She earned All-America honors in cross country in 2023 with a 15th place finish at the NAIA Championships. In the spring of 2024, she received All-America status with a seventh place finish at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. This past December, she registered All-America honors by winning the NAIA Marathon Championship.

"From All-America honors in cross country, the outdoor track and field 5k, and the marathon, to the indoor 3k, Alauna can do it all!" Pearson said.

It was the second top-three finish at the NAIA Indoor Championships for the Geoducks. On Friday, Izabelle Trefts (Jr.) won the women's 3,000-meter race walk in 13:53.46 while setting the Evergreen school record.

"I'm very excited about the women's team placing 18th at NAIA Nationals!" Pearson commented. "It's an honor to be the top women's program from the Cascade Collegiate Conference at nationals! It was a great weekend to be a Geoduck!"