LA CROSSE, WI (May 21, 2026) – In a historic head-to-head competition in the long jump at the NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships today, Tufts University sophomore
Elysse Cumberland finished as the runner-up for the fifth All-American honor of her young career.
Competing in the second flight, Cumberland had a 5.99m (19'8") mark on her first attempt that was the best in the event to that point. Then on her second attempt, she launched a huge PR of 6.21m (20'4 ½") to remain in the lead. At the moment, the mark was the third-best ever at an NCAA DIII Outdoor Championship and a top 10 mark in Division III history overall. It improved upon her previous school record of 6.04m (19'9 ¾").
However, three jumps later, Centre College junior Chloe Hein unleashed a 6.43m (21' 1 ¼") to take over the lead. The distance is the NCAA Divison III Outdoor Meet record, and is #2 all-time in Division III.
In the end, two of the best long jump marks in NCAA Division III history were recorded just minutes apart. Hein, who won the NCAA indoor long jump in March, added a 6.39m (20'11 ¾") on her final jump today for good measure.
Cumberland would finish second in the event, scoring eight points for the Jumbos. She earns a first-team All-American Award (top eight), her fifth in the six NCAA indoor and outdoor events that she has competed in.
In her first NCAA appearance today, Tufts junior
Emma Gall tied for 11th place in pole vault. After she cleared 3.75m (12'3 ½") on her third attempt to keep going, Gall then made 3.85m (12'7 ½') on her first attempt. Missing at 3.95m (12'11 ½") three times, she finished with the 3.85m mark for 11th and a second-team All-American honor (places ninth through 16th).
Sophomore
Arielle Chechile qualified for the 400-meter hurdles final today. With the winner of each of the three heats and the next six-best times advancing, Chechile ran 1:00.01 for second in her heat. The mark was the fifth-fastest time out of the 22 competitors. The 400h final is on Saturday at 3:15 PM Central Time.
Sophomore
Lauren Zipoli got started in the NCAA heptathlon today, and is in 19th place after four events with 2690 points. She PR'd in the shot put with an 8.51m heave (27'11"), while also timing 25.62 seconds in the 200 meters for fifth out of 22 in the heptathlon field. She had other marks of 15.02 in the 100-meter hurdles and 1.47m (4'9 ¾") in the high jump. Zipoli will finish the multi-event on Friday with the long jump, javelin throw and 800 meters.
Junior
Simi Lawal was in the 200 meters prelims today, but did not finish the race.
With the eight points scored by Cumberland, Tufts is tied for fourth place out of the 111 teams at the meet through one day.
Along with Zipoli finishing the heptathlon, Tufts will have the 4x100-meter relay preliminaries and Lawal in the 100 meters preliminaries on Friday.
--JUMBOS--
