Rice University Athletics
Wednesday, June 10
Eugene, Ore.
Rice University
vs
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Photo by: Dale Mouton
Women’s Track and Field Rounds Out Tremendous 2026 Season
6/13/2026 10:31:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
EUGENE – The Rice women's track and field team closed the 2026 season Saturday evening at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. A season featuring the first National Champion in 24 years and an American Conference Championship, the Owls sent out legendary head coach Jim Bevan with a storybook ending. The Owls finished 27th in the nation with 10 points.
Alice Taylor closed out Rice's week in Eugene, ending her collegiate career by earning Honorable Mention All-American honors, finishing 21st in the heptathlon.
Mckyla Van der Westhuizen stole the show in Oregon on Thursday night, claiming the javelin title on her final throw in a Rice uniform to be crowned a National Champion.
After opening with a throw of 59.23m to initially take the lead, Van der Westhuizen slid to second for the next four rounds. On the final round of throws, Van der Westhuizen fell to third before unleashing a school record throw of 60.87m to jump into the lead.
Van der Westhuizen won the 16th national title in program history and is the 10th national champion athlete in program history.
Julia Johannesdottir rounded out a stellar season in the 100m hurdles, finishing 23rd with a time of 13.33, earning All-American Honorable Mention recognition.
Post Meet Reaction - Head Coach Jim Bevan
"I thought Alice had a great career and a great finale at the national meet. She's been here before, but this was the first time in the heptathlon. She came in a great high jumper and left a great high jumper and a great heptathlete. She competed so well at one of the best meets in the world. I'm very proud of how far she's come since she got here. Further, this was a great national meet for us; we had a National Champion, with the all-time clutch performance in Rice history. If we go back to the last six years, we have the second-most points among non-power 4 schools, with 51 points. We also have the most podium finishes with Michelle Fokam in third, Grace Forbes and Tara Simpson-Sullivan in second, and Mckyla in third and now first. We have finished 21st, 30th, 49th, 21st, 57th and now 27th as a team, which represents Rice having a national presence at the national meet. We've been just as good, if not better, than most schools."
RESULTS
Javelin
1. Mckyla Van der Westhuizen – 60.87m – First Team All-American
Heptathlon
21. Alice Taylor – 5490 – Honorable Mention All-American
100m Hurdle Prelims
23. Julia Johannesdottir – 13.33s – Honorable Mention All-American
Alice Taylor closed out Rice's week in Eugene, ending her collegiate career by earning Honorable Mention All-American honors, finishing 21st in the heptathlon.
Mckyla Van der Westhuizen stole the show in Oregon on Thursday night, claiming the javelin title on her final throw in a Rice uniform to be crowned a National Champion.
After opening with a throw of 59.23m to initially take the lead, Van der Westhuizen slid to second for the next four rounds. On the final round of throws, Van der Westhuizen fell to third before unleashing a school record throw of 60.87m to jump into the lead.
Van der Westhuizen won the 16th national title in program history and is the 10th national champion athlete in program history.
Julia Johannesdottir rounded out a stellar season in the 100m hurdles, finishing 23rd with a time of 13.33, earning All-American Honorable Mention recognition.
"I thought Alice had a great career and a great finale at the national meet. She's been here before, but this was the first time in the heptathlon. She came in a great high jumper and left a great high jumper and a great heptathlete. She competed so well at one of the best meets in the world. I'm very proud of how far she's come since she got here. Further, this was a great national meet for us; we had a National Champion, with the all-time clutch performance in Rice history. If we go back to the last six years, we have the second-most points among non-power 4 schools, with 51 points. We also have the most podium finishes with Michelle Fokam in third, Grace Forbes and Tara Simpson-Sullivan in second, and Mckyla in third and now first. We have finished 21st, 30th, 49th, 21st, 57th and now 27th as a team, which represents Rice having a national presence at the national meet. We've been just as good, if not better, than most schools."
Javelin
1. Mckyla Van der Westhuizen – 60.87m – First Team All-American
Heptathlon
21. Alice Taylor – 5490 – Honorable Mention All-American
100m Hurdle Prelims
23. Julia Johannesdottir – 13.33s – Honorable Mention All-American
Players Mentioned
Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Jumps/Multis
/ Women's Track & Field
Javelin
/ Women's Track & FieldWednesday, March 09
Saturday, December 04
Thursday, December 02