LA CROSSE, Wis. – It was a historic and electrifying night for the Concordia University Wisconsin women's track & field program, as two Falcons delivered All-America performances in the 10,000-meter run on Thursday at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The Falcons were represented by junior Emma Ahrens (Stephens City, Va.) and senior Ainara Sainz de Rozas (Madrid, Spain), who both rose to the occasion on the national stage. Entering the meet, Sainz de Rozas owned the second-fastest time in the field, while Ahrens qualified 22nd overall—setting the stage for a dramatic and memorable race.
Sainz de Rozas immediately positioned herself among the leaders, sitting fifth at 1,200 meters before making a decisive move to the front at the 2,000-meter mark. From there, she controlled the pace and looked every bit like a national champion contender.
Meanwhile, Ahrens showed remarkable grit and determination. Sitting in 20th at 2,800 meters, she methodically worked her way through the field with a steady surge, climbing spot after spot as the race unfolded.
In a thrilling final lap, Sainz de Rozas held the lead before being narrowly edged at the line by Elle Marsyla of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, who finished in 33:38.71. Sainz de Rozas crossed just behind in 33:39.31, shattering her own school and NACC record (previously 34:02.86 at the Drake Relays) in a breathtaking performance. Her time ranks seventh all-time in NCAA Division III.
Ahrens capped her incredible comeback with a career-best time of 35:15.59, placing 12th overall. She trimmed more than 20 seconds off her previous best (35:38.04), set earlier this month, in one of the most impressive races of her career.
Both Falcons earned All-America honors, with Sainz de Rozas securing First Team distinction and Ahrens claiming Second Team recognition—marking a significant milestone for the program on the national stage.
As a team, Concordia Wisconsin sits in sixth place with eight points after the opening event.
Sainz de Rozas will return to the track on Saturday to compete in the 5,000-meter run, looking to add another chapter to an already historic championship weekend for the Falcons.
