Wildcat wins pair of titles at NCAA Track and Field Championships

Sophomore Emy Ntekpere led a strong showing by the Central Washington University women’s track and field team last weekend, winning dual national titles in the high jump and triple jump at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships in Pueblo, Colorado.

Ntekpere, who won the triple jump at the Division II Indoor Championships in March, also became the first woman in GNAC history to win two individual field events at the Outdoor Championships. The team placed seventh at the meet with 31 points, tying the GNAC record for best team finish. 

“Emy competed like a warrior,” CWU head coach Jonathan Hill said in an article on WildcatSports.com. “Obviously, winning two national titles is extraordinary, but the story behind the win is the special part for me. Emy is just starting to realize she can win these meets. It's OK to fail, but it's not OK to give up. She fought through a third attempt on the 1.73-meter bar, then rocked a 1.76 first attempt. It was her meet after that.” 

Ntekpere went on to clear 1.82 meters (5.97 feet) to win Friday’s finals and claim first team All-American honors. She followed up that stellar effort on Saturday with another standout performance, winning the triple jump with an effort of 13.33 meters (43 feet, 7.7 inches).

“It was an incredible moment of resilience, character, toughness, everything we hope our kids will be when their moment comes,” Hill said. “Emy is a once-in-a-lifetime talent, teammate, and person.”  

Senior teammate E’lexis Hollis claimed national runner-up honors in the 100 meters, running 11.10 seconds in prelims and 11.25 in the final to earn first team All-American honors. The Ellensburg native also qualified for the 200-meter final at 23.20 seconds, and placed sixth in 23.27, joining Ntekpere with two first team All-American honors.

“She has worked hard at her race plan and is executing better and better,” Hill said of his five-year superstar. “It was amazing watching her put things together here and now. She leaves this weekend with two more First Team All-American awards, a new GNAC record, and three new school records. Simply amazing watching her compete this weekend and the grit she exhibited,”

Ashlyn Nielsen, Elise Hopper, Zoe Gonzales, and Hollis powered the women's 4x100 meter relay team to a time of 44.76 seconds in the prelims, earning a spot in the final and setting new CWU and GNAC records. Despite qualifying eighth, the relay team was disqualified in the final.

Not to be forgotten, Lauryn McGough earned another top-10 finish for the ‘Cats in the pole vault, placing 10th with a jump of 3.92 meters (12.86 feet) and earning second team All-American honors.

For the men, CWU’s lone qualifier Johan Correa advanced to the men's 800-meter final with a time of 1:48.81. He went on to finish sixth in the final with a time of 1:50.11, earning first team All-American honors. Coach Hill praised Correa’s commitment to excellence.

“He ran to win, and we were all really hoping for a title for this man,” the coach said. “He got a little tripped up, and that hurt his momentum. In fields like this, that's all it takes. It was a great race, and sixth in this field, and the season he's had is just incredible. He's an instant legend here and a huge part of our success this weekend.” 

Next up, the Wildcats await their chance to be selected for the 2025 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Oregon. The meet will run June 1-30 at historic Hayward Field.