Washburn men’s and women’s track and field competes at Pittsburg State University in the 2026 Outdoor Track & Field Championships from May 1-3. Athletes across all disciplines will be competing against other athletes in the MIAA conference for a chance to qualify for the NCAA Division II meet.
Conference is a chance for athletes to put their training to the test. Top competitors have the opportunity to compete against the best in the conference and push past their previous limits.
Kereser Augustin, senior sprinter, will race this weekend at the MIAA conference race. She plans to race in the women’s 400 meter and the women’s 4×400 meter relay.
“My biggest goal is hopefully to upgrade my medal in the 400 because I’ve been getting third consistently. I’m trying to at least go up to silver, but I just want to go out there and PR this weekend,” Augustin said.
Athletes aim to score points for the team and earn a spot on the podium. Augustin aims to score as many points as possible and qualify for nationals. Another runner that is aiming to place well at conference is Jake Muller, junior hurdler.
Andrew Ashmore, graduate assistant sprints coach, pointed out Muller as a candidate for contention at the national level in the men’s 400-meter hurdles. He also hopes to “see our relays build strong chemistry” before race day.
Another standout athlete is Justin Forde, senior jumper, who earned a no-1 ranking in NCAA Division II for the men’s triple jump at the April 16 ESU Relays meet.
Leo Freeland, graduate assistant distance coach, looks forward to the performances of all athletes, especially the athletes competing in the men’s 10,000 meter.
“The 10k in the MIAA is very competitive, so I think if they can score points, that would be great,” Freeland said. “It could be quite tactical, so I think they’ll try and just stay in contact with the group as long as possible, and then hopefully have a good finish and a good kick at the end.”
Freeland explained a tactical race as a strategy that thwarts other athletes’ paces. Runners will sometimes start a race slower than they should and finish at a faster pace. Athletes do this because it is easier to start slow and finish fast the last few laps. This strategy is “generally more exciting to watch and to race.”
Watching Washburn athletes compete, hit new personal records and qualify for national meets is thrilling for spectators and fellow athletes. Augustin enjoys the “thrill” of conference meets.
“Conference is where you see surprising performances, like people drop times out of nowhere, and it’s so exciting to see your teammates win and being with your teammates when they’re running,” Augustin said.
Now is the time to support these athletes while they make their mark on Washburn athletics. Live results and online streaming on the MIAA network are available for spectators who are not able to make the drive to Pittsburg, Kan. for the 2026 MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Edited by Bidhya Sapkota and Stuti Khadka
