LINCOLN and SEWARD, Neb. -- Three women's indoor track and field athletes from The Evergreen State College excelled during meets in Nebraska on Friday, Jan. 23. Izabelle Trefts (Sr.) took first place and Madison Palek (So.) placed fourth in the 3,000-meter race walk at the Concordia University Polar Dog Invite in Seward, as both competitors qualified for the 2026 NAIA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championships. Alauna Carstens (Jr.) won the women's 3,000-meter run at the Nebraska Wesleyan University Prairie Wolf Invitational, held in conjunction with the Mark Colligan Memorial meet at the Devaney Center Indoor Track.

Trefts won the 3,000-meter race walk at the Polar Dog Invite with a time of 13:33.27. It was the second-fastest time in collegiate race walking history. Trefts also met the "A" standard to qualify for NAIA Championships and set the Evergreen school record. Her time moved her into first place on the NAIA performance list for this season in the 3,000-meter race walk.

Palek also qualified for the NAIA Championships with a time of 16:56.89 in Nebraska. She now has the seventh-fastest time this year in the NAIA in the 3,000-meter race walk, and she ranks second on Evergreen's all-time list.

In Lincoln on Friday, Carstens bested the field in the 3,000-meter run at the Prairie Wolf Invitational with a time of 10:08.70. Carstens led from start to finish and won the race by about 10 seconds. Adeline Crow from Dordt University (Iowa) placed second in 10:18.59, and Jada Koerner, also from Dordt, was third at 10:32.62. Emily See of Wichita State University (Kan.) placed fourth in 10:37.63. Claire Helmers, running unattached, was fifth in 10:38.06. A total of 20 athletes competed in the event.

"Incredible day for the Geoducks in Nebraska!" said Evergreen Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joel Pearson. "Izabelle performed to perfection, Alauna won the 3k, and what a massive day for Maddy. It was Maddy's first 3k race walk, and it was a national qualifier! Another great day to be a Geoduck!

"These women are incredible," noted Evergreen Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Katie Burnett. "They flew halfway across the country and still performed well:  Alauna dominated her race, Izzy posted the second fastest time ever, and Maddy qualified for NAIA Indoor Nationals in her first indoor 3,000-meter race walk! I could not be more proud."