INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Washington & Jefferson College track & field has earned its first NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field qualifier since the 2024 season with
Claire Anderson (Jamestown, Pa./Jamestown).
The 2026 Indoor Championships will be held Friday, March 13 through Saturday, March 14 at Birmingham Cross Plex in Birmingham, Ala.
"I cannot say it enough. I'm super proud of Claire and all she has accomplished while at W&J. She never ceases to impress," said Head Coach
Andy Upton. "Since her phenomenal cross country season in the fall, she has not missed a beat with any of her training and has stayed on that same path and continues to get better every single day she hits the track."
Anderson will be representing W&J in her second Indoor National Championships appearance in her career. Anderson logged a qualifying time in the 5,000-meter run with a program-record time of 16:48.20 at the GVSU Holiday Open hosted by Division I Grand Valley State. The senior bested all runners in her heat, finishing first against top Division III talent and Division I runners.
"This year we focused more on training and less competing and she has done nothing but hit homeruns every time she has walked on the track. Claire has definitely taken advantage of every opportunity she has had on the track and is running as well as any athlete that I have ever seen in any event," stated Upton. "She is special person and a special athlete. When you have been doing this for as long as I have, you learn to appreciate these moments because qualifying for the NCAA Championships are very challenging and should never be taken for granted. And coaching people like Claire are even more rare and that should be never taken for granted either."
The previous record was held by Kristen Galligan from the 2013 indoor season, as she raced to a 17:04.75 time in the 5k. The senior currently ranks ninth in all of Division III in the event.
"She has been a lot of fun to watch and it will be very exciting to see her line up in another big race this week against the best runners in the country and watch her do what she loves to do…..Run and Run Fast," replied Upton.
Anderson is set to compete in Birmingham on Friday (March 13) at 4:45 p.m. in the 5K.
