Photo by: Kelsey McHugh
Tulane Women Lead American Indoor Championship After Day One
Feb 27, 2026 | Track & Field
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – After the first day of action at the Birmingham Crossplex Friday, Tulane leads on the women's side of American Conference Indoor Track and Field Championship with 38 team points. The Green Wave utilized a quartet of medal-winning performances to fuel the climb to first place, highlighted by Blezzin Kimutai's record-setting victory in the 5,000 meters.
Tulane boasts 38 points through the first day of competition to hold a narrow lead over Charlotte and UTSA, who own 36 and 35 points, respectively.
Blezzin Kimutai stole the show in the 5,000 meters to highlight a successful day all around for the Wave, as she won the race with a record time of 15:59.69. Not only did the sophomore from Kenya break her own program record, she set a new meet record to claim 10 points for the team. Petra Dos Santos posted a time of 16:27.65 in the event to place fourth. Though missing out on the podium, she notched five points for the Wave.
Sofie Groeninger secured a bronze medal in the pentathlon with 3,803 points. Groeninger tallied the best mark in the shot put with a 14.05m, which is fifth best in program history. She added results of fourth in the high jump (1.59m), fifth in the 800 meters (2:28.48), sixth in the 60 meters hurdles (9.00), and seventh in the long jump (5.36m) en route to her podium finish.
Presley Wolfe earned a silver medal in the pole vault with her mark of 4.12m. The tally is fifth in program history and the 61st-best mark in Division I this season.
Tulane secured another silver in the 4,000 meter distance medley relay. The team of Elena Liano-Rengel, Nahema Dumonteil Cabanas, Maria Alduan, and Dana Rojas Vazquez posted a time of 11:32.54 to place second in the event. The mark is sixth in program history and the 53rd best in Division I this season.
Cara Salsberry also scored points for Tulane in the weight throw, placing eighth with her mark of 16.99m.
Across multiple preliminary events today, four Wave athletes qualified for tomorrow's respective finals. In the mile, both Liano-Regel and Reese Ragland advanced with top-five finishes. Liano notched a 4:58.36 to place second, and Ragland was fifth with a 4:52.00 time. In the 800 meters, Jasper Newton ran a 2:10.72 to finish seventh and advance, setting a new personal best. Zaria Parker advanced in the 200 meters with a time of 24.06 as she was seventh overall. In the 60 meters, Parker ran a 7.49 to place 11th. Despite not qualifying to advance, she secured a new personal-best time, which is fifth best in program history.
Tulane will carry its lead into tomorrow's final day of action looking to finish strong and defend last season's title.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball and men's and women's basketball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL TULANE ATHLETICS APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane cross country and track & field on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
Tulane boasts 38 points through the first day of competition to hold a narrow lead over Charlotte and UTSA, who own 36 and 35 points, respectively.
Blezzin Kimutai stole the show in the 5,000 meters to highlight a successful day all around for the Wave, as she won the race with a record time of 15:59.69. Not only did the sophomore from Kenya break her own program record, she set a new meet record to claim 10 points for the team. Petra Dos Santos posted a time of 16:27.65 in the event to place fourth. Though missing out on the podium, she notched five points for the Wave.
Sofie Groeninger secured a bronze medal in the pentathlon with 3,803 points. Groeninger tallied the best mark in the shot put with a 14.05m, which is fifth best in program history. She added results of fourth in the high jump (1.59m), fifth in the 800 meters (2:28.48), sixth in the 60 meters hurdles (9.00), and seventh in the long jump (5.36m) en route to her podium finish.
Presley Wolfe earned a silver medal in the pole vault with her mark of 4.12m. The tally is fifth in program history and the 61st-best mark in Division I this season.
Tulane secured another silver in the 4,000 meter distance medley relay. The team of Elena Liano-Rengel, Nahema Dumonteil Cabanas, Maria Alduan, and Dana Rojas Vazquez posted a time of 11:32.54 to place second in the event. The mark is sixth in program history and the 53rd best in Division I this season.
Cara Salsberry also scored points for Tulane in the weight throw, placing eighth with her mark of 16.99m.
Across multiple preliminary events today, four Wave athletes qualified for tomorrow's respective finals. In the mile, both Liano-Regel and Reese Ragland advanced with top-five finishes. Liano notched a 4:58.36 to place second, and Ragland was fifth with a 4:52.00 time. In the 800 meters, Jasper Newton ran a 2:10.72 to finish seventh and advance, setting a new personal best. Zaria Parker advanced in the 200 meters with a time of 24.06 as she was seventh overall. In the 60 meters, Parker ran a 7.49 to place 11th. Despite not qualifying to advance, she secured a new personal-best time, which is fifth best in program history.
Tulane will carry its lead into tomorrow's final day of action looking to finish strong and defend last season's title.
TICKETS
Tickets for the football, volleyball and men's and women's basketball campaigns can be purchased by calling 504-861-WAVE (9283), logging on to TulaneTix.com or visiting the ticket office at the James W. Wilson Jr. Center.
DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL TULANE ATHLETICS APP
Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.
FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow Tulane cross country and track & field on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
GREEN WAVE CLUB
Giving to the Green Wave Club provides Tulane Athletics with the resources student‑athletes need to excel in competition and in the classroom. Your support directly improves the lives of current and future Green Wave student‑athletes and enhances Tulane's competitiveness in intercollegiate athletics. Make a gift today by calling (504) 865‑5356, emailing greenwaveclub@tulane.edu, or visiting GreenWaveClub.com.
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Throws
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