RESULTS

LA CROSSE, Wis. – Calvin senior Sophie Bull repeated as national champion in the steeplechase in dominating fashion Friday night at the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

A year after winning her first national title in the race, Bull (Denver, Co./Denver Christian HS) did it again, this in Calvin and NCAA III Championships record time of 10:04.18. The time is the second-fastest in NCAA III women's track and field history in the race and the fastest run at the national meet. It breaks her previous Calvin record of 10:07.18 set earlier this spring. Bull finished more than seven seconds clear of Peyton Steffen of Central College who placed second in 10:11.25 with Adriana Crabtree of Illinois Wesleyan third (10:18.82).

Bull ran in the lead pack early in the race and then went toe-to-toe with Steffen through 1500 meters. With just under four laps left, Bull began to push the pace and widen the gap on Steffen. Bull maintained a healthy lead over the final lap and continued to put the pedal down. She cruised over the remaining barriers and water pit, winning the race by a seven-second margin.

The national title is the third of Bull's track and field career which also includes a 3,000 meter title this past March on top of her two steeplechase titles. She is now a three-time All-American in the steeplechase, taking fifth in the race in 2024 and winning the race in 2025 and 2026. She has now claimed NCAA III All-America honors in seven straight distance running seasons, beginning with her fifth place finish in the steeplechase at the 2024 NCAA III Outdoor Track & Field Championships and continuing with All-America finishes at the 2024 NCAA III Cross Country Championships, the 2025 NCAA III Indoor Track and Field Championships, the 2025 NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the 2025 NCAA III Cross Country Championships, the 2026 NCAA III Indoor Track & Field Championships and now the 2026 NCAA III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

She joins Megan Pierce as the only two individuals in Calvin women's track and field history to repeat as individual national champions at the NCAA III Outdoor Track and Field Championships with Pierce accomplishing the feat in the 400 meters in 1999 and 2000. Pierce, Bull and Rachel Boerner are the only three repeat NCAA III individual champions in Calvin women's track and field history with Boerner repeating as the NCAA III Indoor Track champion in the 400 meters in 2010 and 2011.

"To win national championships in back-to-back years in a race is pretty special," said Calvin head track and field coach Adam Haldorson. "Sophie ran an incredible race this evening. She stayed within herself early and then pounced when the time was right. She received significant competition but still managed to win by a big margin which speaks the level of her performance. We are all incredibly proud of her. She's not done yet either as she has a chance to put some more points on the board tomorrow."

Bull will run in the 5,000 meter finals on Saturday at 5 p.m.

Bull reflected on winning Friday's steeplechase title in a post-meet interview with the NCAA staff. "A lot of emotions right now but mainly just happy ones," said Bull. "Winning the national title last year was just the most incredible thing ever. To come back and repeat is difficult but I'm thankful for the opportunity and grateful to have won again."

Also looking to put points on the board tomorrow will be graduate student Sydney Radigan (Portland, Ore./St. Stephen's Academy) who came through with the top performance in the 100 meter dash prelims on Friday, clocking in with a time of 11.57. Radigan will run in the championship finals of the 100 meter dash (3:30 p.m.) and 200 meter dash (4:40 p.m.) on Saturday.

In addition, she will be a part of a Calvin 4x100 meter relay team that advanced to Saturday's championship final with the eighth-best time out of Friday's prelims in 46.73. The relay of freshman Rayn Rutley (Fenton, Mich./Fenton HS), senior Mia DeJonge (Bellevue, Wash./Bellevue Christian HS), sophomore Alison Bailey and Radigan will run in Saturday's championship final at 2:05 p.m. on Saturday.

DeJonge came up with an individual All-America race on Friday, placing 13^th in the 100 meter hurdles in a time of 14.48. Although the finish did not advance DeJonge to the (top-9) championships finals, it did qualify her as a Second Team All-American and finishers 9-16 in each race are designated with Second Team All-America status. DeJonge was the 22^nd and final qualifier to the 100 meter hurdles field last Friday but moved up nine places from her seed with a strong race into a challenging headwind at the national meet.

"I'm extremely proud of Mia's performance today," said Haldorson. "A few years ago, she was battling to break 15 seconds and win a conference championship. Then she started to break through, winning a league (indoor) title a year ago in the hurdles and followed with a huge indoor and now outdoor season this year. She has consistently produced quick times this year and to see her move up like she did today was great. The only tough thing was that she ran into a tough headwind in her heat today. Then the wind shifted a bit for the next two heats. But that's the sport of track and field. You can only compete to the best of your ability in the conditions you have and Mia did just that today. She will have another All-America opportunity tomorrow in the relay which we are looking forward to."

Senior RyAnn Rohrer (Ludington, Mich./Ludington HS) also competed in the shot put on Friday, placing 21^st with a throw of 39-7 ¾. She also competed in the discus on Friday, placing 21^st. "RyAnn had a bit of a tough day, just missing her mark a bit but she has had a great year and she has another season of track and field left next spring," said Haldorson. "She will be back at it next year and I have no doubt that she will be back again, aiming for big goals next spring."

The first-place finish by Bull in the steeplechase on Friday gives Calvin 10 points in the team standings. The Knights are currently tied for ninth in the overall women's team standings heading into Saturday's competition at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

The University of Wisconsin La Crosse track has been good to the Calvin women's outdoor track and field program with Bull becoming the third individual in program history to win a national title at Roger Harring Stadium. Betsy Haverkamp was the first to do so in 1997, winning the 3,000 meter run, years prior to the steeplechase becoming a championships event for women. Nicole Michmerhuizen then won the 10K national crown on the Roger Harring Stadium surface in 2013 with Bull becoming the third on Thursday night with her steeplechase crown. 



CALVIN WOMEN'S 100 METER HURDLES ALL-TIME ALL-AMERICANS

100 METER HURDLES – Women
2003 – Annie VanderLaan – 6^th place
2007 – Sarah Wittingen – 6^th place
2008 – Sarah Wittingen – 7^th place
2018 - Jenna Dyksen - 7th place
2026 - Mia DeJonge - 13th place (2nd Team All-American)

CALVIN WOMEN'S 3,000 METER STEEPLECHASE ALL-TIME ALL-AMERICANS

3,000 METER STEEPLECHASE - Women
2005 – Sarah Hastings – 5^th place
2010 – Elizabeth Smit – 5^th place
2011 – Gretchen Braymer – 7^th place
2012 – Alyssa Penning – 5^th place
2021 -  Annie Needs - 6th place
2024 -  Jenna Allman - 15th place (2nd Team All-American)
2024 -  Sophie Bull - 5th place
2025 - Jenna Allman - 16th place (2nd Team All-American)
2025 - Sophie Bull - 1st place
2026 – Sophie Bull – 1^st place