Alivia Henkel hurdle prelims at NCAA Championships
©Steve Woltmann

Women's Track and Field

Henkel Advances to Hurdle Final, Berenyi Takes 13th

Contact: Taiah Gallisath, Associate Director of Athletics Communications, 630-637-5302

LA CROSSE, Wis. (May 21, 2026) - The North Central College women's track and field team closed out day one of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships with senior pole vaulter Gwen Berenyi earning Second Team All-America honors and sophomore Alivia Henkel winning her 400-meter hurdle heat to receive an automatic qualifier to Saturday's final. 

The women's pole vault competition began with sunny skies but the weather slowly shifted to an overcast with cooler temperatures and frequent wind gusts. Berenyi cleared the opening bar of 3.60 meters (11'9.75") on her first attempt before using some extra chances at the 3.75m (12'3.50") bar. Eighteen vaulters remained, including Berenyi, as the bar moved up to 3.85m (12'7.50"). After two short attempts at 3.85m, Berenyi found the clearance space on her third jump, in what would ultimately be her final cleared bar of the competition. Berenyi capped off her senior year finishing 13th at the outdoor national championships.

In her nationals debut, Henkel dominated the 400m hurdle preliminary round, claiming an automatic bid to Saturday's final after winning her heat. Henkel lowered her school record to 59.99 seconds, becoming the only Cardinal and first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin student-athlete to break the 60 second barrier in the event. Henkel now owns the CCIW open record previously set by Carthage College's Shea'na Grigsby in 2004. She enters Saturday's final with the fourth fastest time in the field.

While Berenyi completed an exceptional career as a Cardinal on Thursday, Henkel keeps North Central's season alive for two more days as she competes in the 400m hurdle finals at 3:15 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.
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Players Mentioned

Gwen Berenyi

Gwen Berenyi

Pole Vault
Junior
Alivia Henkel

Alivia Henkel

Sprints/Hurdles
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Gwen Berenyi

Gwen Berenyi

Junior
Pole Vault
Alivia Henkel

Alivia Henkel

Freshman
Sprints/Hurdles