LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN — Friday was a historic day for the Central College track and field teams as they swept the women's heptathlon and men's decathlon individual national titles at the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships

Kale Hobart (junior, Mason City) won the program's seventh decathlon title with 7,257 points and Olivia Bohlen (senior, Belle Plaine) became the school's second women's hepathlon champion with 5,158 points.

Olivia Bohlen interview -- click here for youtube video
Kale Hobart interview -- click here for yotube video

Hobart wasn't alone on the decathlon podium as he was joined by teammates Gage Huyser (senior, Pella) in third (7,033 points) and Gavin Smith (senior, Audubon) in seventh (6,790 points).

A school record time in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase wasn't enough for Peyton Steffen (senior, Marion) as she took second in 10 minutes, 11.25 seconds. Sophie Bull of Calvin University (Mich.) set the all-time meet record in 10:04.18.

In the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase, Jack Brown (junior, Norwalk) crossed the line fifth in 8:50.12. Winner Joey Sullivan of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse also set a championship meet record in 8:39.22.

Just missing the podium in the men's high jump, Lance Bunde (sophomore, Guthrie Center, ACGC HS) earned second team All-American with a leap of 6 feet, 9 inches and a ninth-place finish.

Qualifying for the 110-meter hurdles finals with a time of 14.06 in the third heat of the prelims. Gunner Meyer (senior, Fairbank, Wapsie Valley HS) will be seeded sixth for Saturday's final race.

Also in a preliminary race, Alivia Roerdink (junior, Tiffin, Ohio, Hopewell-Loudon HS) finished 19th in the women's 400 meters in 56.56 seconds.
 
Central College NCAA Championships schedule of events
Saturday, May 25 (times are CST)
2 p.m. – men's 110-meter hurdles (final)
2 p.m. – women's javelin throw (prelims and final)
4 p.m. – women's 5000 meters (final)