Lahner Breaks Mile School Record at DeLoss Dodds Invitational

Junior Vienna Lahner sets new women's mile record at Kansas State University

Jan. 31, 2026 at 8:55pm

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Junior Vienna Lahner broke the women's mile school record, which had stood since 1983, on Saturday during the second day of the DeLoss Dodds Invitational at Cliff Rovelto Indoor Track. Lahner ran a time of 4:38.84, surpassing the previous record of 4:39.06 set by Deb Pihl.

Why it matters

Lahner's record-breaking performance is a significant achievement for the Kansas State track and field program, as the women's mile record had stood for over 40 years. This showcases the continued excellence and development of the Wildcats' middle-distance runners under the coaching staff.

The details

Lahner, a native of Spring Hill, Kan., ran a personal best time of 4:38.84 in the invite race, becoming the fastest Wildcat to enter the top-10 since 2023. She said she felt confident and capable of breaking the record, thanks to the support of her coaches.

  • Lahner broke the record on Saturday, January 31, 2026 during the second day of the DeLoss Dodds Invitational.

The players

Vienna Lahner

A junior on the Kansas State track and field team who broke the women's mile school record.

Deb Pihl

The previous holder of the Kansas State women's mile school record, which stood since 1983.

Travis Geopfert

The head coach of the Kansas State track and field team.

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What they’re saying

“Vienna broke our school record in the mile. Deb Torneden had the mile record, she still works here in our athletics department, Deb's an awesome person and is the biggest fan of all of our runners, but the biggest fan of that mile record being broken. It was in 1983 that it was set, and a special record, Deb was here to see it, Vienna competed so well. And anytime you break a record at a historic program like K-State, it's a big deal.”

— Travis Geopfert, Head Coach

“Deb's [Pihl-Torneden] been super, super supportive with it the whole last year. Like, she's been talking me up, trying to get me to get there and break her record, which has been really special. My coaches have been amazing with all of it, Steph [Brokaw] and Trey [Brokaw] have both been really helpful. Yeah, I mean, it's awesome, I feel like this has been something that they keep telling me I'm capable of and like, you know, you believe it, when everyone feels that way, so it's been really nice.”

— Vienna Lahner, Junior

What’s next

The Wildcats will compete on the road for the first time on February 13-14 in the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

The takeaway

Lahner's record-breaking performance in the mile showcases the continued excellence and development of the Kansas State track and field program, particularly in the middle-distance events. This achievement is a testament to Lahner's hard work and the support of her coaches, as well as the enduring legacy of the Wildcats' storied track and field history.