Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
 
MOUNT VERNON, Iowa – The Grinnell College women’s outdoor track and field program claimed its first Midwest Conference title since 1985 on Saturday afternoon at Ash Park on the campus of Cornell College.
 
With 178 points in the 2026 Midwest Conference Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Grinnell claimed two event titles on Saturday. Rajanea Landers won the triple jump (11.04m) and Hannah Roth won the 3000-meter steeplechase (11:18.92). Head coach Jeff Pedersen and his staff were named the Women’s Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
Coming in second place was Illinois College (160 points), as the Lady Blues won five event titles on Saturday. Riley Gardner won the high jump (1.68m) while the 4x100 relay team of Deja Anderson, Fynesse Jones, Haley Garrett and McKenzie Murray set a meet record with a 47.78 showing. Additionally, Aleese Trimingham won both the 100 hurdles (14.41) and the 400 hurdles (1:02.93) while Garrett was the 200 champion in 25.47. Trimingham was selected as the Women’s Outstanding Track Performer.
 
Third place belonged to Cornell College (119 points). Jayda Carnes won the 400 in 59.43, while Ava Claussen-Tubbs crossed the tape first in the 800 (2:14.41). The Rams’ 4x400 team of Hailey Carolan, Claussen-Tubbs, Carnes and Ryleigh Storjohann was also victorious in 4:05.34. Sophie Stumbo received the Elite 20 award, presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average among competitors in the women’s outdoor track and field championship.
 
Ripon College took fourth place, accumulating 104 points. Joley Berger was the 5K champion (17:10.39), backing up her 10K title from Friday.
 
Monmouth College won a pair of field events on Saturday, finishing fifth in the team standings (88 points). Jilllian Toth won the hammer (54.95m) and Kayla Braun won the discus (39.32m). Braun was recognized as the Women’s Outstanding Field Performer.
 
The standings rounded out with Lawrence University (72 points), Beloit College (38 points), Knox College (12 points) and Lake Forest College (8 points).
 
Lawrence’s Elena Hartung was named the Women’s Newcomer of the Year after qualifying for the finals in the 100 hurdles, 200-meter dash and 400 hurdles – with a pair of runner-up finishes in the hurdles.
 
The final women’s standings and event champions from Saturday are listed below.
 

Women's Team Standings

1. Grinnell College – 178

2. Illinois College – 160

3. Cornell College – 119

4. Ripon College – 104

5. Monmouth College – 88

6. Lawrence University – 72

7. Beloit College – 38

8. Knox College – 12

9. Lake Forest College – 8

 

Event	Women's
Hammer	Jillian Toth, Monmouth – 54.95m
Discus	Kayla Braun, Monmouth – 39.32m
Triple Jump	Rajanea Landers, Grinnell – 11.04m
High Jump	Riley Gardner, Illinois College – 1.68m
4x100m Relay	Illinois College – 47.78
3000m Steeplechase	Hannah Roth, Grinnell – 11:18.92
100m Hurdles	Aleese Trimingham, Illinois College – 14.41
400m	Jayda Carnes, Cornell – 59.43
100m	Haley Garrett, Illinois College – 12.39
800m	Ava Claussen-Tubbs, Cornell – 2:14.41
400m Hurdles	Aleese Trimingham, Illinois College – 1:02.93
200m	Haley Garrett, Illinois College – 25.47
5000m	Joley Berger, Ripon – 17:10.39
4x400m Relay	Cornell – 4:05:34