INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Alaska Anchorage had five student-athletes qualify for the NCAA Div. II Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Emporia State May 21-23.
Sophomore
Jessica Chisar will be headed to the NCAA National Championships for the second time in her career in the 800. The native of Pleasant Hill, Calif., finished 15
th in the 800 at the 2025 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. She ran 2:07.95, the second-fastest time in school history, to finish third in the 800 at the GNAC Championships.
Junior
Anders Larsen will compete in the decathlon after winning the GNAC title with a score of 6,969 points, the second-highest point total in school history. This will be the second time that Larsen, a native of Chugiak, Alaska, has represented UAA at a NCAA National Championship after he earned All-American honors with a 14th-place finish in the heptathlon at the 2026 NCAA Div. II Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Junior
Vivien Liessfeld will be making her first appearance at the NCAA National Championships. The native of Neuwied, Germany will compete in the long jump after jumping a school record of 6.16/20-2.5 at the Pacific Coast Invitational. She won GNAC titles in the long jump and heptathlon and was named the GNAC Field Athlete of the Meet and GNAC Women's High Point Scorer.
Junior
John Peckham will be making his fourth appearance at an NCAA National Championship. The native of Sisters, Ore., will be competing in the steeplechase after winning the GNAC title in a time of 8:55.44, the fourth-fastest time in school history. He was competed at three NCAA Div. II Cross Country National Championships earning All-American honors with a 25
th-place finish in 2025.
Junior
Ryann Smith will be making her debut at the NCAA National Championships and will compete in the 1,500. The native of Rawlins, Wyo., finished second in the 1,500 at the GNAC Championships and ran a personal-best and fourth-fastest time in school history of 4:26.76 in the 1,500 at the APU Franson Last Chance Meet.
NCAA Div. II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships Schedule
Thursday, May 21 (All-Times Alaska)
7:30 am – Decathlon starts
2:25 pm – Women's 1,500 prelim
2:30 pm – Women's long jump final
3:40 pm – Men's steeplechase prelim
Friday, May 22
6:30 am – Decathlon starts
3:15 pm – Women's 800 prelim
4:15 pm – Men's steeplechase final
Saturday, May 23
1:05 pm – Women's 1,500 final
2:25 pm – Women's 800 final
