Women's Track and Field | 4/30/2026 7:31:00 PM
April 30, 2026-In the month leading up to the national championships Emporia State Athletics will take a look at the 21 events that make up the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field program. This will include a look at the reigning national champion, the top ranked competitor this season, the NCAA championships record, the Welch Stadium record and any Emporia State athletes that have provisionally qualified for the national meet. Day one features the multi-events.
The men's decathlon will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the women's heptathlon to follow at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 21. The multis will wrap up on Friday, May 22 with the decathlon starting at 9:30 a.m. and the heptathlon at 10:30 a.m.
As of April 30, West Texas A&M's Fran Bonifacic leads the nation in the decathlon with 7526 points. The top heptathlon mark is 6161 points by Esther Conde-Turpin also from West Texas A&M. Both marks were set at the 98
th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin, Texas in early April.
Men Thursday, May 21 at 10:30 a.m./Friday, May 22 at 9:30 a.m.
2023 National Champion: Hunter Jones, Pittsburg State 7639 points
2024 Top Ranked Competitor: Fran Bonifacic, West Texas A&M 7526 points
NCAA Championship Meet Record: Florian Obst, Texas A&M-Commerce 8005 points 2018
Welch Stadium Record: Hunter Jones, 7898 points 2024 National Championships
Best ESU National Finisher:
Payson Maydew, 7413 points 2014 Third Place
Payson Maydew, 7222 points 2015 Third Place
Tony Granillo, 6832 points 2011 Third Place
ESU School Record:
Payson Maydew, 7413 points 2014 National Championships
2024 ESU Provisional Qualifier:
Luke Grace 6540 points Jo Meaker Classic, Ranked 26th Nationally
Women Thursday, May 21 at 11:00 a.m./Friday, May 22 at 10:30 a.m.
2025 National Champion: Blakelee Winn, Pittsburg State 6007 points
2026 Top Ranked Competitor: Esther Conde-Turpin, West Texas A&M 6161 points
NCAA Championship Meet Record: Blakelee Winn, Pittsburg State 6007 points 2025
Welch Stadium Record: Cheyenne Nesbitt, Saginaw Valley State 6002 points 2024 National Championships
Best ESU National Finisher: Deandra Doubrava, 5394 points 1999 National Champion
ESU School Record: Deandra Doubrava, 5394 points 1999 National Championships
2026 ESU Provisional Qualifier: Isabella Davie 5057 points Jo Meaker Classic, Ranked 11
th Nationally
Lou Dumas 4596 points ESU Midwest Classic, Ranked 44
th nationally
Deandra Doubrava won the 1999 national championship in the heptathlon with a school record 5394 points at Welch Stadium. The Hornet men have three third place finishes in the decathlon in Division II. Tony Granillo scored 6,832 points to place third in 2011.
Payson Maydew finished in third place twice. He scored a school record 7413 points in 2014 and then scored 7222 points in 2015 for Emporia State.
Luke Grace scored 6540 points in the decathlon at the Jo Meaker Classic in Canyon, Texas this year. He is ranked 26th nationally.
Emporia State has two women that have provisionally qualified for the championships.
Isabella Davie scored 5057 points at the Jo Meaker Classic to rank 11th in the nation while
Lou Dumasscored 4596 points at the ESU Midwest Classic to rank 44th in the nation.
Emporia State's Welch Stadium and Zola Witten Track will host the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships. It will be the fifth time that Welch Stadium has played host to the national championships.
Welch Stadium previously served as the host site for the National Championships in 1995, 1999, 2006, and 2024 with the first meet in 1995 bringing 450 student-athletes to Emporia. The 2026 meet is scheduled to bring 754 student-athletes, nearly 200 coaches and over 100 officials to the Flint Hills over the Memorial Day weekend.
The 2026 Championships are scheduled for May 21-23. During championship week, the NCAA Committee will come to Emporia on Monday with the first practice time available on Tuesday. Wednesday of championship week will see a variety of coaches and officials meetings before the actual competition begin on Thursday. The meet will wrap up on Saturday evening.
After playing host to the 2024 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships, Emporia State was the site of the 2025 MIAA Outdoor Championships. It was the seventh time Welch Stadium has served as host of the conference championships since 1997. Welch Stadium and Witten Track are back on the schedule to host the 2027 MIAA Outdoor Championships as well.
