OLYMPIA, Wash. – The men's and women's track and field teams from The Evergreen State College had an outstanding track and field season during the 2025-26 academic year. Three Geoducks earned All-American honors in the marathon, three Evergreen athletes were named All-American during indoor track and field, and one Geoduck claimed All-American honors in outdoor track and field.

NAIA MARATHON CLASSIC

Alauna Carstens (Jr.) won the women's NAIA Marathon Classic title for the second year in a row on Dec. 14, 2025. She achieved a time of 2:53:50 (2 hours, 53 minutes, 50 seconds). Carstens also took first place in the Elite Women's division and was the overall women's champion at the BMW Dallas Marathon, which included the NAIA Marathon Classic.

Sherlyn Perales (So.) took eighth place in the women's marathon in 3:08:16. Soleil Bianchi (Jr.) finished 35th in the women's marathon in 3:32:53. The Geoducks took second place in the women's team standings with a score of 23.

In the men's NAIA Marathon Classic, Max Baeder (Jr.) led the way for the Geoducks by taking fifth place and setting the Evergreen record with a time of 2:29:05 (2 hours, 29 minutes, 5 seconds). Baeder placed eighth at the NAIA Marathon a year earlier on Dec. 8, 2024.

Joining Baeder at the 2025 race for Evergreen were Jaydon Blackburn (Jr.) and Jackson Rye (Jr.). Blackburn took 21st place in 2:39:15, while Rye placed 31st in 2:49:01. The Evergreen men's team claimed fourth place with a score of 35.

Carstens, Baeder, and Perales were each named All-American in the marathon. Carstens and Baeder received the honor for the second consecutive season. Perales received the honor for the first time in her first trip to the NAIA Marathon Classic.

Marathon School Record Set in 2025-26

Men
Marathon, Max Baeder, 2:29:05, NAIA Marathon

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

The Evergreen women's team took 12th place at the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Izabelle Trefts (Sr.) led the way by winning her second consecutive NAIA championship in the women's 3,000-meter race walk. Madison Palek (So.) placed fourth in the women's race walk. Carstens took second place in the women's 3,000-meter run.
Trefts won the race walk in 13:11.95 while setting the national collegiate record, the NAIA record, the CCC record and the Evergreen school record. It was her third NAIA title overall. She won the 3,000-meter race walk in 2023 before transferring to Evergreen. Palek's fourth place finish was earned with a time of 15:13.77, as she lowered her personal record by 64 seconds.

Carstens placed second in the 3,000-meter run with a time of 9:51.95. It was her second consecutive top three finish after taking third place in 2025.

Trefts, Carstens, and Palek each earned NAIA All-American recognition. It was Trefts' third All-American honor from indoor track, while Carstens received her second All-American award from indoor track, and Palek claimed her first All-American honor in her first appearance at the NAIA Championships.

USA Track and Field ranked Trefts #1 in the nation in the 3,000-meter indoor race walk. In addition, she qualified to compete for Team USA at the outdoor 2026 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brazil. She placed 54th individually at the World Team Championships and earned the second fastest half marathon race walk time in American history.

Trefts also competed for Team USA at the Podebrady Walking Meet in Chechia. She helped the USA place third. She was 30th in the individual standings in the half marathon.

In addition to Trefts' national collegiate record in the 3,000-meter race walk, the Evergreen women's team set three other school records in indoor track.

The 4 x 400-meter relay team earned Evergreen's fastest time of 4:48.74 at the Portland Indoor #2 on Feb. 8. Running on the relay for the Geoducks were Merecedies Dupont (Fr.), Dani Buttrell (So.), Maddie Morgan (Sr.), and Bianchi. Evergreen set the distance medley relay record at 12:59.26 at the Whitworth Indoor Invitational on Feb. 13. The distance medley relay team included Palek, Dupont, Buttrell, and Carstens. Claire Ryan (Jr.) broke the school record in the weight throw with a toss of 13.50 meters (44' 3.50") at the Corban Indoor/Outdoor meet on Feb. 7.

Three members of the Evergreen men's track and field team set school records during the indoor season. DeAndre Wright (Fr.) set the record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.89 seconds at the Whitworth Invite. Max Baeder (Jr.) achieved the record in the 3,0000-meter run in 8:55.23 at the University of Washington Preview. Jonathan Van Pelt (So.) set the record in the pole vault with a successful attempt at 4.05 meters (13' 3.50") at the UW Preview.
 
Indoor Track and Field School Records Set in 2025-26

Women
3,000-meter Race Walk, Izabelle Trefts, 13:11.95, NAIA Championships*
4 x 400-meter Relay, Dupont, Buttrell, Morgan, Bianchi, 4:48.74, Portland Indoor #2
Distance Medley Relay, Palek, Dupont, Buttrell, Carstens, 12:59.26, Whitworth Invite
Weight Throw, Claire Ryan, 13.50 m (44' 3.50"), Corban Indoor/Outdoor

*Also set collegiate, NAIA, and CCC records

Men
60-meter Dash, DeAndre Wright, 6.89, Whitworth Invite
3,000-meter Run, Max Baeder, 8:55.23, UW Preview
Pole Vault, Jonathan Van Pelt, 4.05m (13' 3.50"), UW Preview

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD

Palek represented Evergreen at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where she took third place in the 5,000-meter race walk in 25:30.95. She was named All-American to go along with her All-American award in the indoor 3,000-meter race walk. Palek scored six points at the NAIA Outdoor Championships as Evergreen tied for 39th place in the team standings.

Palek also excelled at the 2026 Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships, where she took first place in the 5,000-meter race walk. Her winning time was 26:43.86. Palek and Buttrell each claimed All-CCC honors during the meet. Buttrell took third place in the 3,000-meter race walk in 11:37.80.

Four other Geoducks finished in the top eight at the CCC Championships. Haleigh Hanson (So.) was fifth in the women's discus throw with a toss of 38.05m (124' 10"). Her mark set a personal record. Wright took seventh place in the men's 100-meter dash and the men's triple jump, while setting the school record in both events. In the 100-meter dash, he registered a time of 10.77 seconds. In the triple jump, his top distance was 13.72 meters (45' 0.25").

Baeder earned seventh place in the men's 10,000-meter run. He completed the race in 32:46.85. Rye took eighth place in the men's 10,000 as he was timed at 33:06.82.

Evergreen set a total of six school records during the outdoor season. Wright's school records in the men's 100 and the men's triple jump at the CCC Championships led the way. Other school records were set by Buttrell and Ryan in women's events and by Evan Williams (Sr.) and Van Pelt in men's events.

Buttrell set the school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:34.08 at the Whitworth Invite. Ryan earned a school record distance of 43.83 meters (143' 9") in the hammer throw at the PLU Invite. Williams provided a school record in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 10:03.37 at the Corban Invite. Van Pelt set the Evergreen record in the pole vault with a mark of 4.30 meters (14' 2.25") at the PLU Invite.
 
Outdoor Track and Field School Records Set in 2025-26

Women
3,000-meter Steeplechase, Dani Buttrell, 11:34.08, Whitworth Invite
Hammer Throw, Claire Ryan, 43.83m (143' 9"), PLU Invite

Men
100-meter Dash, DeAndre Wright, 10.77, CCC Championships
3,000-meter Steeplechase, Evan Williams, 10:03.37, Corban Invite
Pole Vault, Jonathan Van Pelt, 4.30m (14' 1.25"), PLU Invite
Triple Jump, DeAndre Wright, 13.72m (45' 0.25"), CCC Championships