Contact: Kerry Kahl, Cornell College Assistant Director of Athletics for Communications, kkahl@cornellcollege.edu

MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – Cornell national champion Isaac vanWestrienen has been selected the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Men’s Track Athlete of the Year for the 2026 outdoor season by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
 
The senior star is Cornell’s first-ever recipient of the top regional award in men’s track & field.
 
VanWestrienen is fresh off a historic weekend at the NCAA Championships, claiming a national title in the 10000-meter run followed by a runner-up showing in the 5000. They were his seventh and eighth career all-America performances in track & field.
 
VanWestrienen established facility and school records in last Thursday’s 10000 race, posting a winning time of 28:51.60 to become Cornell’s first-ever NCAA champion in men’s outdoor track & field. He finished 17 seconds ahead of his closest competitor.
 
VanWestrienen’s blistering 10000 time ranks eighth-fastest in Division III history.
 
VanWestrienen narrowly missed out on a second NCAA gold two days later in the 5000, placing second (14:03.28) in a race he led virtually throughout. VanWestrienen crossed only .51 seconds behind Roger Williams’ Nathan Tassey.
 
VanWestrienen’s efforts helped the Rams place 10th in the final team standings with 18 points, tying the 1963 squad for the program’s highest NCAA finish.
 
VanWestrienen was voted the Midwest Conference Men's Outdoor Track & Field Outstanding Track Performer after capturing titles in the 1500, 5000 and 10000 at the MWC Championships May 8-9. He earned all-region status in all three events.
 
In the fall, vanWestrienen was tabbed the Midwest Region Men’s Athlete of the Year for cross country following a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships.   
 
VanWestrienen collected six MWC individual titles and five all-America awards during a remarkable 2025-26 academic year.