Five Punch Tickets in Final Day

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Iowa State added five national entries in the final day of NCAA West Prelims. That totals 13 entries to NCAA Outdoor Championships, making for the third-straight year the Cyclones have totaled 10-plus outdoor entries.

The total is one off the outdoor program record of 14 set in 2024.

Cyclones qualified in the men's and women's 10K, men's and women's 5K, men's steeple, men's and women's 800m, women's 400m, women's long jump and women's 4x400m.

Rachel Joseph qualified for her sixth-straight NCAA Championships, and third-straight outdoors, running a 400m time of 50.32 to take second in the third and final heat to grab an automatic advancement.

The time is Joseph's third-fastest 400m time, with her top two times being 50.25 ran in the first round and 50.08 ran at conference. Joseph has now dipped under 51 seconds six times this outdoor season alone.

Makayla Clark then qualified in the next event, the 800m. Clark had a big time of 2:01.01, downing her previous PR of 2:01.71 set at Big 12 Championships. Clark now stands just .13 seconds off the 1990 program record.

The senior crossed third in her heat to auto advance and make her third trip to outdoor nationals in the 800m. It will be Clark's fourth total trip to NCAA Championships as she was part of the bronze medal DMR at 2026 indoor nationals.

Mercyline Kirwa then ran in the first semifinal of the 5,000m and crossed the finish line second in the elite field to punch her ticket to nationals in a second event with 15:29.98. Kirwa qualified in the 10,000m Thursday.

Betty Kipkore then toed the line in the second and final semifinal, and stormed past competitors in the final curve to set the facility record and a PR of 15:14.28 (No. 3 ISU) for the ticket to nationals. Kipkore will join Kirwa in doubling in the 5K and 10K in Eugene.

The women's 4x400m was the next event, with Joseph and Clark returning to the track and adding another national entry in a blistering time. Brooklyn Sandvig led off with 54.37 and handed the baton to Joseph who split sub-50 with 49.02. Emma Vorpagel raced next clocking 53.65 and Clark anchored with a split of 51.77. The squad combined for a time of 3:28.81, a new school record. The previous school record, which Sandvig, Joseph and Clark were also a part of, was 3:29.68 set last season.

The team took third in the first heat for the auto advancement, just beating out a lightning delay.

NCAA Championships are next up, held June 10-13 in Eugene, Oregon.

Iowa State Results

Discus (W): 1. Ines Lopez, Arizona State – 198-8 (60.57m); 27. Betty Rosvold, Iowa State – 166-9 (50.83m)

400m Quarterfinals (W): 1. Kaylyn Brown, Arkansas – 49.77; 3. Rachel Joseph, Iowa State – 50.32

800m Quarterfinals (W): 1. Sanu Jallow, Arkansas – 1:57.74; 5. Makayla Clark, Iowa State – 2:01.01 (PR, No. 2 ISU)

5,000m Quarterfinals (W): 1. Betty Kipkore, Iowa State – 15:14.28 (PR, No. 3 ISU); 7. Mercyline Kirwa, Iowa State – 15:29.98; 13. Mercy Kibet, Iowa State – 15:42.14 (PR, No. 7 ISU)

4x400m Quarterfinals (W): 1. Arkansas – 3:21.83; 3. Iowa State (Sandvig, Joseph, Vorpagel, Clark) – 3:28.81 (No. 1 ISU)

Players Mentioned

Makayla Clark

Rachel Joseph

Mercy Kibet

Betty Kipkore

Mercyline Kirwa

Betty Rosvold

Brooklyn Sandvig

Emma Vorpagel

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics