GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Alauna Carstens (Jr.) from The Evergreen State College took second place in the women's 3,000-meter run on the final day of competition at the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, March 7. The NAIA Championships were held at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center.

It was the second consecutive year that Carstens completed the NAIA indoor 3,000-meter race among the top three finishers. She earned third place at the NAIA Championships. Carstens was an All-American in the event both years.

The women's 3,000-meter run on Saturday was won by Ellen-Mary Kearney from Milligan University (Tenn.) with a time of 9:45.69. Kearney also won the NAIA 3,000-meter championship in 2025. This year, Carstens followed in second at 9:51.95, just six seconds behind Kearney. 

A total of six runners completed the 3,000 in under 10 minutes. After Kearney and Carstens crossed the finish line, the next three runners were more than three seconds behind Carstens but were within 0.57 of each other. Third place went to Elizabeth Barrett from Indiana Wesleyan University in 9:55.15. Fourth place was earned by Leah Kunstmann from University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) in 9:55.56, while fifth place was recorded by Joy Koole of Dordt University (Iowa) at 9:55.72. Sixth place was attained by Abby Knepper of Mount Mercy University (Iowa) in 9:59.25.

"What a race by Alauna! I am so proud and pleased of her performance!" said Evergreen Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joel Pearson. "After winning the NAIA National Marathon last fall, we had a tough start to the indoor season. Watching her race today was so awesome! Alauna Carstens! National Runner up! All-American!"

Carstens has registered NAIA All-American performances eight times. In addition to the two All-American performances at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2025 and 2026, she has won the NAIA Marathon Classic twice, in 2024 and 2025, and has claimed NAIA All-American recognition two times in cross country in 2023 (15th place) and 2025 (4th place), and twice in outdoor track and field in 2024 (5,000-meter run, 7th place) and in 2025 (10,000-meter run, 8th place).

"Alauna always aims to impress!" commented Evergreen Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Katie Burnett. "Championship races can go so many ways, and Alauna raced smart, drew out the chase pack, before breaking away behind the leader and solidifying her runner-up finish. Her eighth All-American!! We are so proud!"

Also competing for the Evergreen Geoducks at the 2026 NAIA Indoor Championships were Izabelle Trefts (Sr.) and Madison Palek (So.) in the women's 3,000-meter race walk. Trefts won her national title in the race walk on Friday while setting the NAIA record and national collegiate record at 13:11.95. Palek earned fourth place with a time of 15:13.77, while lowering her personal record by 64 seconds. Trefts and Palek were named NAIA All-Americans.

The three Evergreen athletes combined to score 23 points in the women's team standings. Evergreen took 12th place among the competing teams.

Photo Below:  Alauna Carstens with her awards after taking second place in the NAIA women's indoor 3,000-meter run. Photo by Katie Burnett.