By: Jeff Evans, Assistant AD for Athletic Communications
BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University Track & Field program is sending seven student-athletes to indoor nationals with competition at the 2026 NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships set for Friday and Saturday in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
WWU's strong representation all comes from the women's team with the sprint, throws and jumps groups all competing for a national title inside the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
How to Follow Indoor Nationals:
Senior
Bec Bennett aims to repeat as an All-American in her featured 400m event after finishing 7th last season. Bennett enters the race with a top time of 53.47 setting the school record at the Wolf Pack Classic in Reno, Nevada on February 5. Her altitude-converted time of 53.58 enters the meet ranked No. 3 in the nation. Bennett is also a member of the 4x400 relay team that enters the meet seeded No. 10 with a top season mark of 3:42.98.
Sophomore
Jayda Darroch, freshman
Casie Kleine and junior
Kennedy Cook join Bennett on the 4x400 relay team that will close out the meet in the final event on Saturday.
Junior
Emmy Kroontje qualified in the 800m running the second-best time in program history with a mark of 2:08.70 at the Husky Classic. Kroontje enters nationals ranked No. 13 in the nation heading into Friday's preliminary heats. The Lynden native is making her second appearance at nationals after racing in the DMR last season earning All-America honors placing 7th.
Junior
Kora Cook returns to indoor nationals for the second consecutive season after placing 14th a year ago. Cook cleared a season-best 1.74m/5-8.5 at a last chance meet in Oregon on February 21 and heads into the national indoor meet tied for 14th. Cook earned a silver medal at the GNAC Indoor Championships clearing 1.68m/5-6.
Sophomore
Jessica Polkinghorn represents the throws crew in the shot put while making her second appearance at nationals. As a freshman in 2025 Polkinghorn earned Second Team All-America honors at the Outdoor Championship placing 10th. Polkinghorn recorded a season-best and school-record throw of 15.19m/49-10 at the season-opening Spokane Invitational, a mark that ranks No. 11 heading into the national meet.
Fans can follow the action from the Indoor Track & Field Championships with a live (and free) webcast each day at
NCAA.com.
Below is a schedule of events when the Vikings will be in action in Virginia Beach.
Vikings Schedule at Indoor Nationals:
Friday, March 13
Kora Cook – High Jump (4:35 pm ET/1:35 pm PT)
Bec Bennett – 400m Prelim (4:45 pm ET/1:45 pm PT)
Emmy Kroontje – 800m Prelim (5:25 pm ET/2:25 pm PT)
Saturday, March 14
Bec Bennett – 400m Final (5:10 pm ET/2:10 pm PT)
Jessica Polkinghorn – Shot Put (5:15 pm ET/2:15 pm PT)
Emmy Kroontje – 800m Final (5:35 pm ET/2:35 pm PT)
4x400 Relay (7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT)
