Oh Have Mercyline! Iowa State Freshman Stuns Jane Hendengren In 10K Final

Iowa State freshman Mercyline Kirwa upset NCAA record holder Jane Hedengren and defending champion Pamela Kosgei to win the NCAA 10,000m title.

Jun 12, 2026 by Joe Harrington

2026 NCAA Track and Field Preview Show Presented by Saucony23:16

A freshman won the NCAA women's 10,000-meter title Thursday night at the 2026 NCAA Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field. It just wasn't the freshman most people expected.

While much of the attention entering the race centered on BYU's Jane Hedengren, the NCAA record holder, and New Mexico's Pamela Kosgei, the defending champion and meet record holder, it was Iowa State freshman Mercyline Kirwa who emerged with the national title.

Kirwa covered the 25-lap race in 31:54.88, holding off Kosgei and Hedengren in a dramatic finish. Kosgei placed second in 31:56.49, while Hedengren crossed third in 31:57.94 as all three women broke 32 minutes.

Kirwa's victory capped a breakthrough performance against one of the deepest distance fields assembled this season. Hedengren entered the championship having set the collegiate record at 30:46.80 earlier this spring, while Kosgei returned to Eugene as the reigning NCAA champion after winning the event in 2025. Instead, the title belonged to Kirwa, who delivered a poised championship race and gave Iowa State a national champion.

The Cyclones also placed another freshman, Betty Kipkore, fourth in 31:59.72, putting two runners in the top four of the NCAA final.

Women's 10,000m Results

Mercyline Kirwa, Iowa State — 31:54.88
Pamela Kosgei, New Mexico — 31:56.49
Jane Hedengren, BYU — 31:57.94
Betty Kipkore, Iowa State — 31:59.72 PB
Joy Naukot, West Virginia — 32:01.51 SB
Jadyn Keeler, North Dakota — 32:04.97
Rylee Blade, Florida State — 32:08.83 PB
Jenna Hutchins, BYU — 32:16.16
Hilda Olemomoi, Florida — 32:21.62
Domtila Cheruto, Oklahoma — 32:25.66
Rosina Machu, Gonzaga — 32:26.18 SB
Mercy Jebitok, Akron — 32:26.81 PB

How To Watch The Full NCAA Track And Field Championship Meet

ESPN + will stream every field and combined event. You can follow coverage on FloTrack all week here.

NCAA Track Championships 2026 Schedule

All times Eastern. Schedule is subject to change.

Wednesday, June 10

Track Events

8:05 PM - 4x100 Relay, Semifinal, Men
8:21 PM - 1500 Meters, Semifinal, Men
8:38 PM - 3000 Steeplechase, Semifinal, Men
9:08 PM - 110 Hurdles, Semifinal, Men
9:25 PM - 100 Meters, Semifinal, Men
9:41 PM - 400 Meters, Semifinal, Men
9:58 PM - 800 Meters, Semifinal, Men
10:14 PM - 400 Hurdles, Semifinal, Men
10:29 PM - 200 Meters, Semifinal, Men
10:43 PM - 400 Meters, Decathlon, Men
10:56 PM - 10,000 Meters, Final, Men
11:36 PM - 4x400 Relay, Semifinal, Men

Field Events

5:30 PM - Hammer, Final, Men
8:35 PM - Pole Vault, Final, Men
9:15 PM - Javelin, Final, Men
9:40 PM - Long Jump, Final, Men
10:10 PM - Shot Put, Final, Men

Combined Events

4:00 PM - 100 Meters, Decathlon, Men
4:40 PM - Long Jump, Decathlon, Men
5:55 PM - Shot Put, Decathlon, Men
7:10 PM - High Jump, Decathlon, Men
10:43 PM - 400 Meters, Decathlon, Men

Thursday, June 11

Track Events

8:05 PM - 4x100 Relay, Semifinal, Women
8:21 PM - 1500 Meters, Semifinal, Women
8:38 PM - 3000 Steeplechase, Semifinal, Women
9:08 PM - 100 Hurdles, Semifinal, Women
9:25 PM - 100 Meters, Semifinal, Women
9:41 PM - 400 Meters, Semifinal, Women
9:58 PM - 800 Meters, Semifinal, Women
10:14 PM - 400 Hurdles, Semifinal, Women
10:29 PM - 200 Meters, Semifinal, Women
10:43 PM - 1500 Meters, Decathlon, Men
10:56 PM - 10,000 Meters, Final, Women
11:36 PM - 4x400 Relay, Semifinal, Women

Field Events

5:30 PM - Hammer, Final, Women
8:35 PM - Pole Vault, Final, Women
9:15 PM - Javelin, Final, Women
9:40 PM - Long Jump, Final, Women
10:10 PM - Shot Put, Final, Women

Combined Events

1:45 PM - 110 Hurdles, Decathlon, Men
2:35 PM - Discus, Decathlon, Men
3:45 PM - Pole Vault, Decathlon, Men
6:15 PM - Javelin, Decathlon, Men
10:43 PM - 1500 Meters, Decathlon, Men

Friday, June 12

Track Events

7:50 PM - National Collegiate Wheelchair 100m, Final, Men
8:02 PM - 4x100 Relay, Final, Men
8:12 PM - 1500 Meters, Final, Men
8:24 PM - 3000 Steeplechase, Final, Men
8:42 PM - 110 Hurdles, Final, Men
8:52 PM - 100 Meters, Final, Men
9:02 PM - 400 Meters, Final, Men
9:14 PM - 800 Meters, Final, Men
9:27 PM - 400 Hurdles, Final, Men
9:37 PM - 200 Meters, Final, Men
9:43 PM - 200 Meters, Heptathlon, Women
9:55 PM - 5000 Meters, Final, Men
10:21 PM - 4x400 Relay, Final, Men

Field Events

5:15 PM - Discus, Final, Men
7:30 PM - High Jump, Final, Men
8:10 PM - Triple Jump, Final, Men

Combined Events

2:45 PM - 100 Hurdles, Heptathlon, Women
3:45 PM - High Jump, Heptathlon, Women
5:45 PM - Shot Put, Heptathlon, Women
9:43 PM - 200 Meters, Heptathlon, Women

Saturday, June 13

Track Events

7:50 PM - National Collegiate Wheelchair 100m, Final, Women
8:02 PM - 4x100 Relay, Final, Women
8:12 PM - 1500 Meters, Final, Women
8:24 PM - 3000 Steeplechase, Final, Women
8:42 PM - 100 Hurdles, Final, Women
8:52 PM - 100 Meters, Final, Women
9:02 PM - 400 Meters, Final, Women
9:14 PM - 800 Meters, Final, Women
9:27 PM - 400 Hurdles, Final, Women
9:37 PM - 200 Meters, Final, Women
9:43 PM - 800 Meters, Heptathlon, Women
9:55 PM - 5000 Meters, Final, Women
10:21 PM - 4x400 Relay, Final, Women

Field Events

2:30 PM - Discus, Final, Women
7:30 PM - High Jump, Final, Women
8:10 PM - Triple Jump, Final, Women

Combined Events

5:30 PM - Long Jump, Heptathlon, Women
6:45 PM - Javelin, Heptathlon, Women
9:43 PM - 800 Meters, Heptathlon, Women

* Hammer for men and women will be conducted outside the stadium.

* National Collegiate Wheelchair 100m is an event of the USOPC/NCAA Para-College Inclusion Project.

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