BIRMINGHAM, AL (March 13, 2026) – Junior
Simi Lawal qualified for the finals in the 60 and 200 meters, sophomore
Arielle Chechile broke the school record while reaching the final in the 400 meters and sophomore
Elysse Cumberland scored in the long jump as the Tufts University women's track & field team got started at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships on Friday at the Birmingham Crossplex.
Chechile broke her own school record and earned a #5 ranking all-time for Division III while qualifying for the finals in the 400 meters. She won the first heat with a time of 54.64 seconds, lowering her previous school record of 55.10 set earlier this year. She also becomes just the fifth Division III woman to run 54.64 or better in the event, and it's the eighth-fastest DIII time ever for the 400. After earning the second-fastest time in the first round of the 400 today (eight fastest times advanced), Chechile will run in the final on Saturday at 5:25 PM EST. Her berth into the final guarantees first team All-American status for Chechile. It's the second first-team All-American award of her career (first indoors).
Lawal first qualified for the final in the 60-meter dash. Running in the third heat of today's first round, she timed 7.51 seconds to place second in the heat. The top two from each of the three heats and the next two fastest times advanced to the final, which is set for Saturday at 11:55 AM EST. Lawal's time, her second-fastest ever, was one of four 7.51 marks in the three heats today. Sydney Radigan from Calvin, whom Lawal went against in the third heat, won the first round with a 7.50 mark. The berth into tomorrow's final assures Lawal of first team All-American honors, earned in her first-ever NCAA appearance.
Lawal then achieved another first team All-American honor later on Friday by qualifying for the final in the 200 meters. Running in a fast fourth heat, her time of 24.52 seconds was her PR by 0.01 and was the eighth and final qualifier in the event (eight fastest times advanced). The 200 final will be run on Saturday at 6:15 PM EST.
Cumberland started her two-day NCAA experience by placing seventh in the long jump today. She got into the final nine with a 5.61m (18'5") mark in her second jump, then on her fourth attempt had a 5.66m distance (18'7") that held for seventh place overall. She tied with RPI's Alice Brambati, but Brambati had the better second-best jump to break the tie and take sixth place. The finish makes Cumberland an All-American for the fourth time (three first team). She is also entered in the triple jump on Saturday at 3:00 PM EST.
The two points scored by Cumberland for seventh place put the Jumbos in a tie for 25th place in the team scoring after Friday's six events.
In her first NCAA track & field appearance, senior
Liz Donahue competed in the 5000 meters today and earned second team All-American recognition with a 17:02.40 time (11th place). After moving up to 11th through 2600 meters, she stayed in that vicinity through the second half of the race.
Chechile was also 12th in the 200 meters at 24.72 seconds, the second-best mark of her career. The finish gives her second team All-American honors, increasing her career All-American haul to four (indoors and outdoors).
Sophomore
Makayla Moriarty was also in the 400 meters today and ran a 56.45 mark that was 15th overall and earns her second-team All-American honors. It's the second All-American award of her collegiate career.
As noted, Saturday will have Lawal in a pair of finals (60, 200), Chechile in the 400 final and Cumberland in the triple jump.
--JUMBOS--
