NEW ORLEANS, La. – After leading his team to both the UAA and 2026 NCAA Indoor National Championships, Washington University in St. Louis women's head track and field coach
Jeff Stiles has been named the USTFCCCA National Women's Coach of the Year, as announced by the organization today.
The Bears were ranked No. 1 or No. 2 all season before claiming their seventh consecutive UAA indoor title on March 1, thoroughly distancing themselves from runner-up Chicago. WashU finished with 186.50 points, while the Maroons tallied 129.50.
On the national stage, WashU captured its second NCAA Indoor National Championship on March 14. At the meet, the Bears won three event titles. The first was the distance medley relay, where sophomore
Lauren Raley, senior
Kylie Spytek, sophomore
Kalena Riemer, and sophomore
Lucinda Laughlin earned the national championship in dominant fashion with a time of 11:29.59—setting a WashU record, a National Championship meet record, and a Division III record, and finishing more than seven seconds ahead of runner-up Johns Hopkins.
The second event title came from first-year
Kate Delia, who won the 800m national title in her first national championship meet, clocking 2:07.69—the second-fastest time in program history.
In the final event of the championships, the 4x400m relay team of Spytek, sophomore
Quinn Bird, junior
Caroline Echols, and sophomore
Hailey Weir secured the national title with a WashU-record time of 3:44.54, which also set new meet and Division III records.
WashU finished with 54 team points, 10 ahead of runner-up Williams (44).
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Elevating scholar-champions requires resources beyond the institutional budget. Through the W Club, generous alumni, parents, and friends provide unrestricted support that is essential to the extraordinary WashU student-athlete experience—and the ongoing growth and development of the department. Annual support for Athletics allows the Bears to consistently rise to national levels of competition and ensures that our student-athletes enjoy exceptional opportunities as they train, compete, and lead. To make a gift to the Annual Fund for Athletics, please visit our secure online giving form or contact the Athletics Advancement Office at athletics@wustl.edu
