INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Washburn Ichabod men's and women's track and field received seven individual bids for eight events to the 2026 NCAA DII men's and women's outdoor track and field championships. Earning bids were Lexie Fontaine (800m and 1500m), Jake Muller (400m hurdles), Slade Smith (high jump), Justin Forde (triple jump), Adriel Holloway (hammer), Naiuri Krein (heptathlon) and Mellanie Neudinger (long jump).

Krein punched her ticket for her school-tying-record seventh NCAA championship and her fourth at the outdoor championship. Her seven championship appearances tied Rachael Mayberry for the most by an Ichabod male or female in program history. Krein has been a five-time All-American as a member of the Ichabods winning three indoor and two outdoor. At the NCAA Indoor Championship in the pentathlon, Krein has finished second in 2026, 11th in 2025 and third in 2024 and at the NCAA Outdoor Championship in the heptathlon, Krein has placed ninth in 2025, and seventh in 2024 and 14th in 2023.

Fontaine is making her third NCAA Championship appearance and her first outdoor appearance. She enters the championships as the No. 8 seed in the 800m with a time of 2:06.40 set at the Bryan Clay Invitational. She placed sixth at the indoor championship earlier this year, earning all-American honors. Fontaine is also going to compete in the 1500m as well with her time at 4:26.65 set at the WashU Distance Carnival. She is only the third Ichabod in the NCAA era to compete in two different individual events.

Holloway is making her third NCAA appearance and her second at the outdoor championships. In her first outdoor championship, Hollaway finished second in the hammer earning All-American honors.

Neudinger is making her first NCAA as an Ichabod in the long jump with a personal best 6.03m (19-09.50) at the MIAA Outdoor Championships where she finished third in the event earning all-MIAA honors.

The reigning NCAA Indoor Champion Justin Forde enters the Outdoor Championship with the top mark in the DII ranks this season at 16.64m (54-07.25) en route to the MIAA Outdoor Championship in Pittsburg. Forde became the first individual champion in the Ichabod NCAA era at the indoor meet earlier this year. The upcoming outdoor meet will be Forde's third NCAA National Championship appearance finishing second at the outdoor championships last season.

Smith is making his second NCAA Championship appearance after clearing a personal-best 2.11m (6-11.00) at the Wichita State Shocker Open to qualify. Smith finished 15th at the NCAA Indoor Championship earlier this season.

Muller is seeded 13th in the 400m hurdles after hitting a qualifying time of 51.33 at the Pitt State Almost Last Chance Invitational setting a school record in the process. Muller is making his first NCAA Championship appearance.

The 2026 DII men's and women's outdoor track and field championships are from Thursday, May 21, to Saturday, May 23 hosted by Emporia State.