Jepkorir and Longisa Earn Bids to NCAA Championships

Saturday, May 30

Fayetteville, Ark.

3:15 p.m. PT

Washington State University

NCAA West First Rounds

Photo by: Brendan Maloney

Photo by: Brendan Maloney

Womens 1500m Prelims at NCAA West First Rounds

Photo by: Brendan Maloney

Mens 5000m Semifinal at NCAA West First Rounds

Photo by: Brendan Maloney

May 30, 2026 | Track

WSU Results Full Results Championship Information Photo Gallery

By: WSU Athletic Communications

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Washington State sophomore runners Caroline Jepkorir and Rosemary Longisa clinched their spots at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the final day of the NCAA West First Rounds. Jepkorir qualified in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase, while Longisa clocked the fastest time in the 1,500-meter quarterfinals.

Longisa won her quarterfinal heat in the women's 1,500-meter run, crossing the finish line in 4:07.38, the fastest time at John McDonnell Field to earn her spot in the national semifinals in Eugene, Oregon, June 11. Longisa stayed at the front of the field from the start gun and did not take the led position until after the final bell, fending off a kick from an Oregon trio to finish first with a move in the final 300 meters.

The Kenyan qualified with a top finish in Thursday's prelims and will make her first career trip to the NCAA Championships after a 20th-place finish at last year's outdoor regional championship. Longisa joins fellow sophomore Evans Kurui, who qualified for the national event at Hayward Field next month in both the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter events.

Caroline Jepkorir rounded out the Cougar sophomore trio headed to Hayward Field with a qualifying time in the steeplechase of 10:10.15. Jepkorir ran in the third, final, and fastest heat, keeping pace with the race leader for the first 7,500 meters. Jepkorir fell back in the final laps but finished fifth and clinched the final at-large qualifying time, the 11th-fastest mark overall. The national semifinal is scheduled for 5:38 p.m., Thursday, June 11 in Eugene.

Freshman Mercy Biwott ran to a sixth-place finish in the opening heat of the steeplechase, her first-career appearance at the NCAA Outdoor First Rounds. Biwott clocked a time of 10:32.52, finishing 14th overall.

Jepkorir, Kurui, and Longisa will travel west for the 2026 NCAA Division-I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, June 10-13. To follow WSU cross country and track and stay up to date on Cougar news, follow the program on social media including Instagram, X, and Facebook.

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Women's 1,500m Run
Rosemary Longisa, 4:07.38, 1st (1st overall) [Q]

Women's 3000m Steeplechase
Caroline Jepkorir, 10:10.15, 5th (11th overall) [q]
Mercy Biwott, 10:32.52, 6th (25th overall)