University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
NCAA West Preliminary Round
Panther track and field wraps up NCAA West Prelim action
5/30/2026 10:28:00 PM | Track and Field
UNI women compete in high jump, steeplechase, 400-meter hurdles and 4x400-meter relay on final day of preliminary meet.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. --- The UNI track and field team wrapped up the fourth and final day of the 2026 NCAA Division I West Preliminary Meet on Saturday with Panther athletes in action in four events.
The Panther put forth the top-two high jumpers in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) on the final day of action in Arkansas, with MVC outdoor champion and co-school record holder Katy Stephens tying for 42nd place after clearing 5' 7 ¼" on her third and final attempt. Joey Perry would also compete but came up short on her three attempts on the opening height.
In the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, Amelia Hill, the 2026 MVC runner-up in her final collegiate meet posted a time of 10:38.46 to finish in 28th in the 48-woman field. Perry returned to action for her second event of the day in the quarterfinal round of the women's 400-meter hurdles after breaking her own school record in Thursday's first round. Perry would clock a time of 1:01.28 to finish in 23rd place.
Northern Iowa closed out the week of action in the women's 4x400-meter relay team of Jersey Jones, Perry, Darci Wiseman and Emma Randecker, who swept both the MVC indoor and outdoor titles in the event this year. Having set the UNI school record at the Drake Relays last month, the squad clocked a time of 3:37.33 to finish in 21st place.
Full UNI results from the NCAA West Preliminary Meet can be found below.
UP NEXT
Three athletes will represent UNI at the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, set to be held June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Carter Morton will compete in the decathlon during the first two days of the meet, while both Stephens and Perry will participate in the heptathlon on days three and four. Live coverage of the meet can be found on ESPN+.
2026 NCAA WEST PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Wednesday, May 27
- Men's Long Jump (First Round)
- 14th - Carter Morton (24' 11 ¼")
- 23rd - Parker Kiewiet (24' 3 ¾")
- Men's Shot Put (First Round)
- 19th - David Russell (59' 10 ½")
- 23rd - Carson Lienau (59' 2 ¼")
- Men's 800m (First Round)
- 37th - Derek Woods (1:49.45)
Thursday, May 28
- Women's Long Jump (First Round)
- 37th - Katy Stephens (19' 6 ¾")
- Women's 400m Hurdles (First Round)
- 22nd - Joey Perry (57.75) [SCHOOL RECORD]
Friday, May 29
- Men's High Jump (First Round)
- T39th - Tye Hardin (6' 9 ½")
- Men's 4x100m Relay (Quarterfinals)
- 16th - Tinashe Chigudu, Parker Kiewiet, Luke Meyers, Luke Nevitt (39.58)
Saturday, May 30
- Women's High Jump (First Round)
- T42nd - Katy Stephens (5' 7 ¼")
- DNP - Joey Perry (NM)
- Women's 3,000m Steeplechase (Quarterfinals)
- 28th - Amelia Hill (10:38.48)
- Women's 400m Hurdles (Quarterfinals)
- 23rd - Joey Perry (1:01.28)
- Women's 4x400m Relay (Quarterfinals)
- 21st - Joey Perry, Jersey Jones, Darci Wiseman, Emma Randecker (3:37.33)
UNI track and field action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Track and Field), X (@UNITrackFieldXC) and on Instagram (@uni_tf_xc). Schedules and rosters, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
