VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.  The Western Colorado Mountaineers track and field team is set for the 2026 Indoor National Championships, sending nine athletes and two alternates to compete on the national stage.
On the men's side, Tyler Nord secured a provisional qualifying mark in the mile after running 3:59.15, the sixth-fastest time in the nation. Nord achieved the mark on February 6 at the Colorado Classic and enters the national meet as one of the top contenders, currently ranked sixth in the event. He will take the track Friday at 1:50 p.m.
Oliver Diaz will represent the Mountaineers in the 5,000-meter run after posting the 11th-fastest time in the country with a mark of 13:51.86. Diaz achieved the qualifying time at the Husky Classic on February 13. The sophomore standout enters nationals as the No. 11 seed and will compete Friday at 4:20 p.m.
Western Colorado's men's distance medley relay squad also earned a spot at nationals after recording the 10th-fastest time in the nation at 9:42.95. The team of Gable Rial, Will Stone, Wyatt Hoover, and Nord will look to make an impact in the team standings. The Mountaineers enter the meet ranked 10th in the event and are scheduled to compete Friday at 5:05 p.m.
On the women's side, Peyton Weiss posted the seventh-fastest mile time in the country at 4:46.24, a mark she earned at the Mountaineer Open and Multi on December 5. The junior will look to showcase her strength and consistency against the nation's best. Weiss enters the meet ranked sixth in the event.
Emma Kjellsen delivered a standout performance at the Last Chance Qualifier on February 20, clocking 4:50.48 in the mile—the 12th-fastest time in the nation this season. The senior from Golden, Colorado, has continued to build momentum at the right time and turns her focus toward the national stage. Kjellsen ranks 11th in the event, and she and Weiss will compete Friday at 2:05 p.m.
Lauren Willson secured her spot in the 3,000-meter run after recording the 17th-fastest time in the nation with a mark of 9:30.47 at the 2026 Husky Classic. The junior from Round Rock, Texas, enters nationals ready to compete at a high level. Wilson ranks 17th in the event and will take the track Saturday at 4:25 p.m.
Western's women's distance medley relay team sealed its qualification at the RMAC Indoor Track & Field Championships, posting the eighth-fastest time in the country at 11:28.30. The squad of Kjellsen, Alissa Rall, Weiss, and Meghan Benkendorf will look to build on that momentum in Virginia Beach. The Mountaineers enter the meet as the eighth seed and will compete Friday at 5:25 p.m.
The Mountaineers will compete at the Indoor National Championships in Virginia Beach, Virginia, from March 13–14, as Western looks to leave its mark on the national stage.
