Three standout athletes from the University of Wyoming are set to represent the Cowboys at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships this week in Eugene, Oregon — a venue famously known as “TrackTown USA,” the University of Wyoming Athletics reports.
Daniel Reynolds, Ryker Holtzen, and Jacob White will compete at Hayward Field, a historic and modernized track facility that has hosted some of the sport’s most prestigious events, including U.S. Olympic Trials and the 2022 World Athletics Championships. The trio enters the national spotlight following strong performances at the NCAA West First Round.
Daniel Reynolds, a senior and national indoor champion in the weight throw, will compete in both the hammer throw and shot put. He qualified for the NCAA Championships after placing fourth in both events during regionals in College Station, Texas. Reynolds recorded a hammer throw of 223 feet, 5 inches despite challenging ring conditions. He also overcame a protested shot put attempt that was ultimately upheld after a successful appeal by his coaching staff.
Reynolds is aiming to become the first Cowboy to earn All-American honors in two field events. His coach, Paul Barrett, believes Reynolds has the ability to reach the podium in both.
Ryker Holtzen, a junior from Twin Falls, Idaho, qualified for the 3,000-meter steeplechase after resetting his own school record at the regional meet with a time of 8:34.95. Holtzen previously won the Mountain West Conference title in the event and narrowly missed qualifying for nationals in 2023. This season, he demonstrated tactical maturity and composure under pressure, securing an automatic qualifying spot for Eugene.
He will compete in the steeplechase semifinals on Wednesday, aiming for a spot in Friday’s final.
Jacob White, a junior from Littleton, Colorado, continued a strong season by finishing fourth in the 5,000-meter run at the West Regional. His time of 13:27.32 broke his own school record by 10 seconds, and he ran the final mile in a swift 4:06 in hot, humid conditions.
White, who also helped lead Wyoming’s men’s cross country team to the NCAA Championships earlier this academic year, will run in the 5K final on Friday evening at the storied Hayward Field — a track made famous in part by distance running legend Steve Prefontaine.
All three athletes expressed excitement and focus heading into the national competition, with coaches highlighting their preparation, resilience, and strategic racing as key to their success.
