Heptathlon Sweep Paces Rice After Two Days at American Championships

Alice Taylor, Julia Johannesdottir, Laura Duckhorn

Photo by: Dale Mouton

Heptathlon Sweep Paces Rice After Two Days at American Championships

5/15/2026 11:57:00 PM | Women's Track & Field

By: Anthony Roberts (ar186@rice.edu)

DENTON – The Rice women's track and field team capped off a great second day at the 2026 American Outdoor Championships in Denton, Texas, sitting in first place as a team entering the final day of competition.

The Owls swept the heptathlon podium for the first time in school history, led by Alice Taylor's 5,712 points, with Julia Johannesdottir (5,617) and Laura Duckhorn (5,485) completing the historic feat.

Mckyla Van der Westhuizen collected her third consecutive conference title in the javelin off a fifth-round throw of 57.34m, setting the meet record. Freshman Emily Harbach was right behind with a throw of 56.47m to finish second. Elena Schwegman added a sixth-place finish with a throw of 48.49m.

Miranda Schriver took fourth place in the 3000m steeplechase, finishing two spots ahead of her entered seed.

In the pole vault, Sydney Rothman used a season-best clearance of 3.89m to finish seventh. Alex Gobran also added a seventh-place finish in the 10000m.

Numerous Owls advanced to tomorrow's finals on the track, with Julia Johannesdottir (100m hurdles), Saniya Friendly (100m, 200m), Riana Green (200m, 400m), Arayna Mickles (400m), Barbora Malíková (400m), Sydney Freeman (400m hurdles), Cullen Merrell (800m) and Heidi Nielson (1500m) all earning finals spots.

Post Meet Reaction - Head Coach Jim Bevan
"What a first two days for this team. We were started by the javelin throwers, with Mckyla winning another American title, and freshman Emily Harbach with a great throw to also get on the podium in second. Elena also had a great throw to finish sixth. Alex Gobran finished in seventh place in the 10k in her first outdoor race of the year. Today, the heptathlon swept the podium, first time in program history, with Alice, Julia and Laura. Alice and Julia with great marks to get into the Eugene conversations, and Laura with an impressive meet coming back from injury. I am so proud of those three. Then we had Miranda in only her third ever steeplechase finish in fourth, after falling back to eighth and making up ground to move up. Sydney Rothman also set a Rice personal best to score in the pole vault. So much happened in the prelims, making for an exciting finale tomorrow. Julia came back after the hept. to qualify in the 100m hurdles. Sydney Freeman had a tremendous prelim race to qualify in the 400m hurdles. Saniya and Riana advance in multiple races with season and personal bests. Arayna and Barbora also joined Riana in the 400m, and then Cullen handily won her heat in the 800m to advance. We also have Heidi in the 1500m finals. So proud of all their efforts these first two days. We are competing for each other, and it has shown these first two days."

RESULTS (Scored Events)
3000m Steeplechase
4. Miranda Schriver – 10:41.52 (+5)

10000m
7. Alex Gobran – 36:21.53 (+2)

Hammer Throw
10. Alexandra Toney – 52.91m (173-07)

Javelin
1. Mckyla Van der Westhuizen – 57.34m (188-01) (+10)
2. Emily Harbach – 56.47m (185-03) (+8)
6. Elena Schwegman – 48.49m (159-01) (+3)
10. Addison Zamzow – 41.18m (135-01)

Long Jump
11. Alexis Tarlue – 5.90m (19-04.25)

Pole Vault
7. Sydney Rothman – 3.89m (12-09.00) (+2)

Heptathlon
1. Alice Taylor – 5712 (+10)
2. Julia Johannesdottir – 5617 (+8)
3. Laura Duckhorn – 5485 (+6)

Prelims (Finals tomorrow)
100m
4. Saniya Friendly – 11.34q (advances)

100m Hurdles
1. Julia Johannesdottir – 13.15Q (advances)
13. Sydney Freeman – 13.84
19. Alexis Tarlue – 14.70

200m
5. Saniya Friendly – 23.39Q (advances)
6. Riana Green – 23.48q (advances)
16. Arayna Mickles – 23.87

400m
1. Barbora Malíková – 53.43Q (advances)
2. Arayna Mickles – 53.70Q (advances)
3. Riana Green – 53.93Q (advances)

400m Hurdles
2. Sydney Freeman – 57.64q (advances)

800m
3. Cullen Merrell – 2:11.17Q (advances)
15. Cici Calhoun – 2:14.62

1500m
12. Heidi Nielson – 4:37.84q (advances)

TEAM SCORES (8/21 Scored)
1. Rice – 54
2. UTSA – 52
3. Charlotte – 45
4. Wichita State – 33.5
5. Tulane – 30
6. Memphis – 27
7. South Florida – 22
8. Tulsa – 19
9. North Texas – 17
10. ECU – 4
11. Temple – 3.5
12. Florida Atlantic – 3
13. UAB - 2

UP NEXT
The American Championship concludes tomorrow afternoon on ESPN+.