Few teams in college athletics have been as dominant as the WashU women’s outdoor track team over the last decade. With nine consecutive conference titles, including a dominant performance in April, the program has perennially high expectations.

While the Bears were unable to claim a second consecutive national title this weekend, the team finished second in Division III with a strong showing at the 2025 NCAA Division III Championship in Geneva, Ohio, on May 22-24.

The team’s second-place finish marks their ninth podium appearance in the last 10 seasons. The Bears secured 47 points during the event, well ahead of third-place University of Wisconsin–La Crosse (38). Massachusetts Institute of Technology won the overall championship with 56 points.

The Bears were led by several All-American individual performances from upperclassmen. Senior Yasmin Ruff took home her third consecutive pole vault championship, giving the Bears 10 points. Graduate student Ebun Opata finished second in the triple jump in her final collegiate meet, taking home eight points for WashU. Opata also finished fifth in the high jump. Senior Izzy Gorton finished sixth in the 800-meter race, and junior Jasmine Wright finished sixth in the 100-meter. Junior Jenae Bothe finished fourth in the shot put.

The Bears also excelled in relays. The 4×400-meter relay, consisting of first-year Quinn Bird, sophomore Cate Christopher, junior Kylie Spytek, and Gorton, took home second place. The 4×100 team, consisting of seniors Lauren Gay and Nicole Stewart and juniors Spytek and Wright, finished in fourth.

Several Bears were honored with All-American recognition for their performance at the Championships. Both the 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relay teams, along with Wright, Gorton, Opata, Ruff, and Bothe, were recognized for their achievements. 

WashU’s women’s outdoor track was far from the only team to put together a championship run. In one of the best sports years in recent memory, the Bears took home two D-III national titles and came close to winning several others. 

Just last week, WashU’s women’s tennis team won its first-ever national title. Back in December, the Bears’ women’s soccer capped off a dominant season, winning its second national title.

Several other WashU teams, including women’s outdoor track, came historically close. Men’s basketball lost in the Final Four, its longest postseason run since 2009. Women’s golf finished fifth at the 2025 D-III Championship, and several other teams, including women’s softball, took home University Athletic Association titles.