LA CROSSE, WI (May 23, 2026) – Sophomores
Arielle Chechile and
Elysse Cumberland earned strong fourth-place finishes on Saturday as the Tufts University women's track & field team finished its week at the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships.
Chechile was fourth in the 400-meter hurdles (59.37) and Cumberland took fourth in the triple jump (12.33m – 40'5 ½"), both scoring five team points with their efforts. Tufts finished the meet with 18 points, tying for 15th place out of 111 teams.
Today featured the best NCAA finish of Chechile's young career. She earns a first-team All-American award (her first), her second All-American honor of the meet (including the 4x100-meter relay) and now has six total national accolades in her career. Her finish in the NCAA 400 hurdles today is Tufts' best since Jana Hieber won the 2014 NCAA title in the event.
Cumberland, who placed second in the NCAA long jump on Thursday, adds another first-team All-American award to her resume with today's triple jump performance. She recorded the 12.33m mark on her second attempt, and it's the second-best outdoor mark of her career. With three All-American honors this week (long jump, 4x1, triple jump), Cumberland now has eight in her Tufts career (six first team).
Competing in the NCAA javelin throw for the second straight year, junior
Jackie Wells finished 15th in the event today. Her first attempt was her best, as she tossed a 40.95m (134'4") mark that was the second-best opening throw in the first flight. She achieved the second All-American second team award (ninth through 16th finishers) of her career.
Despite not having junior
Simi Lawal, one of the top sprinters in the country, available this week due to an injury, Tufts still recorded a top 15 national finish. They add it to their ninth-place NCAA Indoor Championships finish to put a cap on an excellent 2025-26 season.
--JUMBOS--
