Courtesy of Boise State Athletics 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Boise State track and field had four student-athletes punch their tickets to the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships during competition at the NCAA West First Round.

Abby Kendrick (10:03.94) and Emily Jobes (10:05.35) qualified for the national stage in the 3000 meter steeplechase, Kaiya Robertson (4:09.17) earned her spot with a school record in the 1500 meter race, and Raekwon Weatherspoon (25’7.25) accomplished the feat in the long jump.

The four qualifications mark the most the Broncos have earned to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships since 2016, when three student-athletes competed in four events. The four athletes are the most the program has sent to the event since 2015.  The accomplishments also mark the second consecutive season that at least one member from both of Boise State’s men’s and women’s teams will compete on the national stage, a feat the program hasn’t accomplished since 2015-16.

Robertson, who qualified for the event for the second consecutive year, became the first Bronco to earn a trip to nationals in back-to-back outdoor seasons since Kristie Schofield (800 meters) did so in 2021-22. She is the third Bronco in program history to qualify for the 1500 meter race in consecutive outdoor seasons.

Kendrick and Jobes secured qualifying spots in the 3000 meter steeplechase, finishing fifth and seventh respectively. Both recorded their best times of the season, with Kendrick posting a time of 10:04.94 and Jobes finishing with a 10:05.35.

Robertsons’ fifth-place overall finish on Thursday propelled her to a spot in the quarterfinals of the 1500 meter race. On Saturday, the senior won her heat and set a program record, finishing with a time of 4:09.17. The senior finished seventh overall in the field to secure her second straight trip to Eugene, Oregon.

Weatherspoon notched his spot with a seventh-place finish in the long jump on Thursday. After scratching on his first two attempts, Weatherspoon recorded a 25’7.25/7.80 meter leap in the long jump to earn the placement.

Several Broncos also had dominant showings at the four-day event. Aayden Simmons had a strong showing in the long jump, finishing in 23rd with a  24’3.75/7.41 meter jump. Brian Kiprotich finished 27th in the men’s 10,000 meters with a time of  29:25.91. In the same event on the women’s side, Amit Koma recorded a time of 34:11.69 to finish in 28th place.

A total of fourteen Broncos competed in the first round event, the most the team has had compete in an NCAA preliminary event since 2019.

Notables
– Boise State will be sending at least one member each from the men’s and women’s team to the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in consecutive years, a feat the program hasn’t accomplished since 2015-16.
– The four qualifications mark the most the Broncos have earned to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships since 2016, when three student-athletes competed in four events in 2016. The four athletes are the most the program has sent to the event since 2015.
– Abby Kendrick and Emily Jobes mark the third time the women’s program has qualified for the outdoor national championships for the 3000 meter steeplechase over the past two seasons. Hannah Ackerman competed in 2025.
– The Broncos have now qualified for the national stage in the 3000 meter steeplechase 14 times in program history. Eleven of those have come from the women’s program.
– Kaiya Robertson’s time of 4:09.17 in the quarterfinals of the 1500 meter race broke her previous school record of 4:10.15.
– Robertson is the first Bronco athlete to compete in back-to-back outdoor national championships since Kristie Schofield (800 meters) did so in 2021-22.
– Robertson is the third Bronco female to qualify for nationals in the 1500 meter race in back-to-back years, and the last to do so since Alexis Fuller in 2018-19. Niamh Bierne also accomplished the feat in 1996-97.
– Raekwon Weatherspoon’s qualification marks the second consecutive season the men’s team has had an athlete compete in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, after Landon Helms competed in the decathlon last season.
– It is the first time in program history the men’s team has had competitors qualify for nationals in back-to-back seasons since 2015-16.
– Weatherspoon marks the first Bronco athlete to qualify for nationals in the long jump since Eetu Viitala in 2011.
– Weatherspoon is the seventh Bronco to qualify for nationals in the long jump in the outdoor season.
– The 14 competitors that represented Boise State are the most the program has had in a first round competition since 2019, when 18 Broncos competed.

Quotables
It’s super exciting to have four qualify for nationals. This team was expecting success at this meet. We came here with a great mindset ready to compete. – head coach Pat McCurry

We’ve had a great season. I feel like we’ve made a big jump this season. Having 14 athletes compete at this event and sending four through is a really big deal. – McCurry

These meets are always hard. We’re ecstatic about the four that are moving on, but a lot of great Broncos had their careers end this week. I couldn’t be prouder of this group. – McCurry

What’s Next
Kendrick, Jobes, Robertson and Weatherspoon will compete in the 2026 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which takes place June 10-13 in Eugene, Ore. Each day will begin at 6 p.m. MT and will be broadcast on ESPN or ESPN2.

Full Results
2026 NCAA Outdoor West First Round
Wednesday
Men’s Long Jump | 7.) Raekwon Weatherspoon – 25’7.25/7.80m | 23.) Aayden Simmons – 24’3.75/7.41m
Men’s 10,000 M | 27.) Brian Kiprotich – 29:25.91
Men’s 1500 | 36.) Alex Thompson – 3.45.81
Men’s 110 M Hurdles | 41.) Chase Lawyer – 14.12
Men’s Hammer | 45.) Tanner Nett – scratch

Thursday
Women’s 1500 M | 5.) Kaiya Robertson – 4:12.79
Women’ 10000 M | 28.) Amit Koma – 34:11.69
Women’s Long Jump | 40.) Emily Stefan – 19’4.75/5.91m
Women’s Hammer Throw | 41.) Victoria Lotz – 54.67 m/179’4
Women’s 800 M | 42.) Noelani Krauss – 2:09.79

Friday
Men’s Long Jump | Aayden Simmons – scratch

Saturday
Women’s 1500 M | 7.) Kaiya Robertson – 4:07.17
Women’s 3000 M Steeplechase | 5.) Abby Kendrick – 10:03.94 | 7.) Emily Jobes – 10:05.35
Women’s 10000 M | Bianca Boehnke – 30.) Bianca Boehnke – 16.23.44