Women's Track and Field | 5/11/2026 11:19:00 AM

May 10, 2026-Throughout the month of May Emporia State Athletics will take a look at the 21 events that make up the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships.   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.  Today we will feature the 200m.
 
The men's 200m prelims will be at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 22 with the final set for 6:10 p.m. on Saturday, May 23. The women will run their prelims at 5:45 p.m. on Friday, May 22 with the final scheduled for 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.
 
As of May 11, Rylan Jordan of Carson-Newman has the best time for the men with a 20.44 at the SAC Championships while West Texas A&M's Blessing Akintoye ran 22.95 that converts to 23.02 for altitude at the Jo Meaker Classic to lead the women.
 
Men Prelims Friday, May 22 at 5:30 p.m./Finals Saturday, May 23 6:10 p.m.
2025 National Champion: Dapriest Hogans, Pittsburg State 20.39
2026 Top Ranked Competitor: Rylan Jordan, Carson-Newman 20.44
NCAA Championship Meet Record: Bryan Bridgewater, Cal State-LA 20.15, 1992
Welch Stadium Record: Dapriest Hogans, Pittsburg State 20.13, 2025 ESU Relays
Best ESU National Finisher: Josh Schuler, 20.75, 2011 National Runner-Up
ESU School Record: Israel Domeh, 20.48w, 2026 MIAA Championships
2026 ESU Provisional Qualifiers: Israel Domeh, 20.89, MIAA Championships, T-22nd Nationally
 
Women Prelims Friday, May 22 at 5:45 p.m./Finals Saturday, May 23 6:20 p.m.
2025 National Champion: Alexis Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne 22.37
2026 Top Ranked Competitor: Blessing Akintoye, West Texas A&M 23.02 (Converted from 22.95 for altitude)
NCAA Championship Meet Record: Danielle Williams, Johnson C. Smith 22.62, 2013
Welch Stadium Record: Alexis Brown, Lenoir-Rhyne 22.84, 2024 NCAA Championships
Best ESU National Finisher: Magali Schneider, 24.17, 1996 Third Place
ESU School Record: Stella Agbokpah, 23.07, 2026 Joe Meaker Classic
2024 ESU Provisional Qualifier:  Stella Agbokpah, 23.14 (Converted from 23.07 for altitude), Joe Meaker Classic, Ranked Fourth Nationally
Barbara Bentum, 23.92, Jayhawk Spring Fling, Ranked 39^th Nationally
 
Josh Schuler ran a then school record 20.75 to finish as the national runner-up in the men's 200m at the 2011 National Championships at Stanislaus State. Magali Schneider had the best finish for the Emporia State women when she ran a then school record 24.17 to finish third at the 1996 National Championships at UC-Riverside.
 
Israel Domeh ran a 20.89 in the prelims of the MIAA Championships to rank tied for 22^nd in the nation before running a wind aided 2048 in the finals. Stella Agbokpah ran a school record 23.07 at the Joe Meaker Classic that converts to 23.14 for altitude to rank fourth in the nation for the women.
 
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 could bring 1,000 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.