WashU Track and Field Kicks Off Outdoor Season with Dominant Performances

Bears excel in pole vault, sprints, and distance events at home meets

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:56am

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Fresh off an indoor national championship for the women's team and strong showings from the men, the WashU track and field teams kicked off their outdoor season with impressive results at the WashU Distance Carnival and WashU Invite. The Bears were particularly dominant in the pole vault, claiming four of the top five spots in both the men's and women's events. WashU athletes also excelled in sprints, hurdles, and distance races, with multiple first-place finishes and personal bests.

Why it matters

WashU's track and field programs have established themselves as national powers, and their continued success in the outdoor season will be crucial as they aim to build on their indoor accomplishments and compete for more championships. The team's depth across multiple events bodes well for their chances of contending for titles at the conference and national levels.

The details

At the WashU Distance Carnival, first-year Kate Delia won the women's 800 meters, while junior Cate Christopher was the runner-up. On the men's side, junior William Frohling finished 10th in the 800. The following weekend at the WashU Invite, the women's team had over 30 top-10 finishes, including four first-place results. Senior Jenae Bothe won shot put, and the Bears nearly swept the pole vault, with four vaulters placing in the top five. On the men's side, the Bears also excelled in the pole vault, taking four of the top five spots, led by junior Peter Lichtenberger's first-place finish.

  • The WashU Distance Carnival was held on March 26-27.
  • The WashU Invite took place immediately after the Distance Carnival, from March 26-28.
  • The Bears will next compete at the UW–Platteville Invitational on April 10 and the Greenville University Select Meet on April 11.

The players

Kate Delia

A first-year student who won the women's 800 meters at the WashU Distance Carnival.

Cate Christopher

A junior who finished as the runner-up in the women's 800 meters at the WashU Distance Carnival.

Jenae Bothe

A senior who won the women's shot put and placed fifth in discus at the WashU Invite.

Peter Lichtenberger

A junior who won the men's pole vault at the WashU Invite.

Lane Lohr

The head coach of the WashU track and field teams.

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What they’re saying

“This weekend was my first outdoor event, so it was my opener. It was good to just get some marks down, and hopefully competitive marks, for conference and nationals. It is really good … to set a strong foundation in my first performance after nationals.”

— Jenae Bothe, Senior

“I was very, very confident going into this race because I've been expecting a breakthrough race for a while. I was the first person that did not make indoor nationals in the 400. So, I was running with some fire under my feet.”

— Kylie Spytek, Senior

“Personally, I wish we had a little bit more of a gap between competing for nationals and going back to competing for [the] regular season. But our coach, Lane Lohr, is a firm believer that we learn by competing, so we did.”

— Peter Lichtenberger, Junior

What’s next

The Bears will next compete at the UW–Platteville Invitational on April 10 and the Greenville University Select Meet in Greenville, Illinois on April 11.

The takeaway

WashU's track and field teams have established themselves as national powers, and their dominant performances to start the outdoor season suggest they are poised to build on their indoor success. The Bears' depth across multiple events, from sprints to distance to field events, makes them a formidable opponent as they aim for more conference and national championships.