EUGENE, Ore. – Sophomore
Elizabeth Khatevi of the Texas A&M-Corpus Christi track & field team concluded her historic 2026 season at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday evening, placing 18
th overall in the women's 1500m to earn an All-American Honorable Mention nod.
Khatevi competed in the first of two semifinal heats in the 1500m, toeing the line in a field that included top-ranked Rosemary Longisa of Washington State and eight other athletes from Power Four schools. After a competitive race throughout, the Kenyan ended up crossing the line in ninth among the group, clocking in at a time of 4:11.93 that came in just two seconds behind her personal best of 4:09.80 at the NCAA West First Round in Fayetteville, Arkansas two weeks ago that ended up qualifying for nationals. Following the second heat, Khatevi's overall finish would be sealed in 18
th place.
Khatevi became just the eighth Islander to ever compete at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday, joining a prestigious group of the best track & field athletes in A&M-Corpus Christi program history that includes two-time national champion and Hall of Honor inductee Shadrack Songok in 2005-2008, Hickel Woolery in 2007-2009, Kassandrea Son in 2010 and 2012, Hannah McWilliams in 2018, Sashane Hanson in 2019, Leonardo Ledgister in 2021 and Trpimir Siroki in 2022. Of these, Khatevi joined Songok as the only ones to compete in a distance running event on the biggest stage in collegiate track & field, with her compatriot featuring in both the 5000m and the 10000m throughout his career.
Thursday also marked Khatevi's second championship meet of the school year, as she also ran at the 2025 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Missouri back in November. At that event, she placed 46
th out of 262 competitors, which was the best-ever placement for an Islander woman in program history and the third-best overall behind only Songok, who took home seventh in 2007 and 19
th in 2006.
"What a year Elizabeth has had!" Islanders head coach
Bryan Jackson said. "I couldn't be more proud of her. What defines us is how we respond, and she will respond and be back better than ever."
#ShakasUp
