LA CROSSE, Wis. – It was a truly historic day for the Concordia University Wisconsin women's track & field program, as the Falcons recorded their best-ever finish at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships and captured just the second national title in program history.

Senior Ainara Sainz de Rozas etched her name permanently into Concordia Wisconsin history, delivering a dominant performance to win the national championship in the 5,000-meter run. She entered the race ranked third in the nation.

The Madrid, Spain native controlled the race from the outset, taking the lead early and never relinquishing it. Sainz de Rozas set the tone with a blistering pace, highlighted by her fastest split of 1:15.09 at the 1,400-meter mark.

From there, she methodically widened the gap on the field, showcasing both strength and composure on the national stage. She crossed the finish line in 16:08.15, securing the title in emphatic fashion.

In the process, Sainz de Rozas shattered her own school and Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) record of 16:17.01, which she set earlier this season at Wisconsin-Platteville.

Her national title caps off an incredible championship week, as she also earned a runner-up finish in the 10,000-meter run on Thursday night, proving her dominance across distance events.

Her victory marks the first national championship for the Falcons since Amanda Kuca won the 3,000-meter steeplechase title in 2006, and only the second in program history.

Sainz de Rozas concludes her remarkable Concordia career as a four-time outdoor All-American, earning national honors in both the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter runs in 2025 and 2026. She is also a 2025 indoor All-American in the 5,000-meter run. 

As a team, the Falcons placed 15th overall with 18 points, both program records at the NCAA Championships, capping off a breakthrough performance on the national stage.