FHSU Athletics
EMPORIA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State men's and women's track and field teams collected two more All-American trophies Saturday on the third and final day of the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships. The Tigers finished the week with four first team All-American trophies and one second team honor.
The women's squad finished in a tie for 15th in the team standings with 15 points, their best finish since 2018 (T-14th) and fourth-best for the team outdoors in the DII era. The men were tied for 57th with one team point.
Competing in her second national meet as a true freshman, Katie Linenberger finished in a tie for fourth with a top clearance of 5-7.75. The Hays native cleared each of the first three bars on her initial attempt, easily clearing heights of 5-3.75, 5-5.75 and 5-7.75. She was one of just seven competitors to reach the fourth bar of 5-8.75, ultimately finishing in a tie for fourth due to prior misses. The outdoor school record holder at 5-10, this is Linenberger's second All-American honor after earning second team status with a ninth-place finish indoors.
Josiah Ball earned his first All-American trophy in the pole vault, clearing a personal-best 17-3 to finish in eighth place. Competing in his third-straight national meet, the sophomore cleared each of the first four bars in the competition. He needed one attempt to clear 15-11.25, two tries to sail over the bar at 16-5.25, one attempt to top 16-11 and two to surpass 17-3. It was the Great Bend, Kan. native's first time clearing 17 feet in competition.
Jackson Rumford made his national championship debut in the javelin throw, placing 22nd with a top toss of 179-2. The freshman's first two attempts were marked as fouls before he posted a mark on his third and final heave. The Scott City, Kan. native recorded a top toss of 218-11 earlier this season, second-best at FHSU during the DII era.
Hunter Angove was also in the field in the men's pole vault competition, where he passed over the first two heights before failing to clear the bar at 16-11 in any of his three attempts.
The meet is FHSU's final contest under the guidance of head coach Dr. Jason McCullough, who finished his 21st year as cross country coach and ninth as track and field head coach. He guided student-athletes to 92 All-American honors in his career, including five national champions.