BOSTON – Following an impressive spring, four America East student-athletes from three institutions have qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships, which will be held June 10-13 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
Ruth White, New Hampshire – Women's 10K
Competition Date: 06/11/26 | 7:56 pm ET
Personal Best: 32:20.60
HOW SHE QUALIFIED:
Ruth White, the 2026 America East 10K runner-up, punched her ticket to Eugene for the second straight year. The sophomore from New Hampshire put a 20-second gap on the entire field in the first 1,200 meters and paced her way to a top-10 finish to earn her spot in the 10K final at the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Emma Wapshare, Vermont – Women's Javelin
Competition Date: 06/11/26 | 9:15 pm ET
Personal Best: 50.83m
HOW SHE QUALIFIED:
Vermont senior Emma Wapshare, the 2026 America East javelin champion, entered the NCAA East Meet with a personal best of 47.83m in the javelin. On her final throw of the competition, she launched a school-record 50.83m to become the second Catamount to surpass 50 meters and punch her ticket to Eugene for the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with an 11th-place finish.
Iosif Papa, UMBC – Men's Discus
Competition Date: 06/12/26 | 5:15 ET
Personal Best: 59.86m
HOW HE QUALIFIED:
UMBC's Iosif Papa, the three-time America East discus champion, is heading back to Eugene for the second year in a row. All three of the senior discus specialist's throws at the NCAA East Meet exceeded 57.20m and would have been enough to punch his ticket, but he saved his best for last with a mark of 57.72m to place 12th and secure his return trip to Eugene.
Ava Roberts, UMBC – Women's Discus
Personal Best: 54.37m
Competition Date: 06/13/26 | 2:30 pm ET
HOW SHE QUALIFIED:
UMBC graduate student Ava Roberts, a four-time conference medalist in the discus, picked a great day to break the Retrievers' school record. The discus specialist entered the NCAA East Meet with a personal-best throw of 52.65m and surpassed that mark on each of her three attempts. She capped off the day with a throw of 54.37m to win her flight, place 12th overall, and punch her ticket to the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
In the past 10 years, 34 America East student-athletes have qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. This marks the fourth straight year that at least three America East student-athletes will compete on the national stage.
The 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships can be viewed on the ESPN2 from June 10-13. Visit NCAA.com for more information.