Junior James Corbett competes at a meet in early February. (Courtesy of WashU Athletic Communications)

The WashU track and field teams capped off a high-stakes weekend at the 2025 UAA Indoor Championships, with the No. 3 women’s team securing their sixth consecutive conference title and the No. 18 men’s team placing fourth in an intensely competitive field. Over two days of competition in Chicago, the Bears delivered standout performances, shattered records, and showcased their depth, reaffirming their position as a powerhouse in the UAA.

Women Leave No Doubt, Extend Conference Dominance with Big-Time Performances

The field events set the tone early, with senior Yasmin Ruff again proving why she’s the best in Division III. Her record-breaking 4.16-meter clearance not only secured another UAA title, but also reset the conference and facility records, reaffirming her spot as the top-ranked vaulter in the nation.

Meanwhile, the long jump squad delivered in a big way, with graduate student Ebun Opata finishing third (5.64 meters) and sophomore Olivia Theisen taking fourth (5.60 meters, PR) — the fifth-best mark in program history. The high jump followed a similar script on the event’s second day, with Theisen winning the UAA title (1.63 meters) and Opata placing second after clearing the same height.

Junior Jasmine Wright delivered one of the biggest performances of the meet, blazing to a UAA title in the 60 meters with a time of 7.56 seconds — a new PR, conference record, and the fourth-fastest time in D-III this season. But for Wright, the focus wasn’t on records, but on helping the team win.

“I wasn’t expecting to run a PR or UAA record, I just went out to compete,” Wright said. “The conference meet is all about scoring points, so I just wanted to get the most I could, which meant winning and adding another 10 for the team. I think having that collective goal gave me extra motivation to run fast this week.”

She carried that momentum into the 200 meters, finishing second with 25.28 seconds to gain even more crucial points. Now, with nationals on the horizon, her focus shifts from time to staying ready for the biggest stage.

“Rest, recovery, and staying healthy over the next two weeks for me is most important,” Wright said. “I want to ensure that I’m at my best for nationals.”

The 800 meters was another statement event, with senior Izzy Gorton taking the UAA title in 2:12.15, marking the 16th-best time in D-III. First-year Kalena Riemer (3rd – 2:14.77) and sophomore Caroline Echols (4th – 2:15.63) turned it into a WashU clinic.

Not to be outdone, junior Jenae Bothe dominated the shot put, setting a new UAA record with a 14.80-meter throw, the second-best mark in D-III this season.

And to put an exclamation point on things, the 4×400 relay team of first-year Quinn Bird, Echols, and sophomores Cate Christopher and Julia Coric, closed out the meet with a conference-winning 3:50.62, securing another UAA trophy for a team that refuses to lose.

Men’s Team Battles for Top Finishes, Claims Fourth in Highly Competitive Field

Unlike the women’s team, which controlled the title race initially, the WashU men fought for every point in a highly competitive championship meet. While Chicago, Emory, and Carnegie Mellon pulled away in the team standings, the Bears still managed to bring in some top finishes.

One of the biggest highlights of the weekend came in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR), a four-leg relay featuring 1200-meter, 400-meter, 800-meter, and 1600-meter segments, where junior James Corbett, sophomore William Frohling, first-year Caleb Brox, and senior Frankie Lynch ran a near-flawless race to win the UAA title in 10:06.82.

Pole vault became one of the Bears’ biggest scoring events, as sophomore Peter Lichtenberger soared to the UAA title, clearing 4.96 meters to break the conference record. His dominant performance capped off a strong showing for WashU’s vaulting squad.

Lichtenberger entered the competition with confidence, fueled by his teammates’ energy. “I felt really excited going in,” he said. “I had spent the previous day cheering on my teammates, and seeing one of our seniors have an incredible day especially had me raring to go.”

Even with the pressure of the moment, he believed he could make history. “I’ve been jumping pretty consistently this year and knew if I kept it together, I had a good chance of making that bar,” he said.

Now, his focus shifts to the national stage. “My next big goal is to repeat as an All-American,” Lichtenberger said. “The competition is a little steeper this year, but if I keep a cool head and listen to my coach, I reckon I have a pretty good chance.” Junior Hayden Kunkel (2nd – 4.76 meters) and graduate student Tommaso Maiocco (4th – 4.46 meters) rounded out a dominant team effort, giving WashU one of the best vaulting units in the conference.

In the sprints, junior George Bourdier (2nd – 22.16 seconds, PR) and senior Elvin Binagi (4th – 22.64 seconds) gave WashU another impressive showing in the 200, while first-year Benjamin Kruger (7th – 51.70 seconds, PR) made his UAA finals debut in the 400. 

The distance squad wrapped up the meet strong, with junior Oliver Witt (3rd – 8:28.14) and senior Matthew Hornung (8th – 8:34.43) scoring in the 3,000 meters.

With another conference title for the women and a hard-fought fourth-place finish for the men, WashU now turns its attention to nationals. With multiple athletes ranked in the Top 20 nationally, the Bears will look to add more hardware to their season at the NCAA Indoor Championships on Mar. 14-15.

This article was updated on March 5 to include additional reporting.