Hawks Build Strong Foundation During 2026 Indoor Season

Palatine, IL: The Hawks women's track and field team used the 2026 indoor season to establish a strong foundation for the year ahead, competing in six meets and showing consistent growth across a small but impactful roster. Despite limited numbers, the Hawks made their presence felt, with four of five athletes meeting national qualifying standards and all five earning spots on the program's indoor top 10 list in at least one event.

Leading the way in both versatility and consistency were Kasey Ledinsky, Lucy Reyna, and Hannah Schulz, each of whom competed in all six meets. Ledinsky proved to be one of the most dynamic athletes on the roster, competing in shot put, weight throw, 800m, mile, and 3k. She recorded personal bests in all three distance events, including 2:34.76 in the 800m, 5:38.47 in the mile, and 11:40.06 in the 3k. Her mile and 3k performances rank 10th and 7th all-time indoors for the Hawks. In the throws, she posted season bests of 27' 10.25" (8.49m) in shot put and 29' 3.75" (8.93m) in weight throw. Ledinsky also met the national qualifying standard in the 800m and 1500m through her mile conversion.

Reyna emerged as a key contributor in both the sprints and field events, competing in the pole vault, 60m, and 200m. She set personal bests in all three, highlighted by a vault of 8' 4.75" (2.56m), which ranks 5th all-time indoors in program history. Her season best times of 9.14 in the 60m and 30.27 in the 200m reflect her continued development on the track. Reyna also met the national qualifying standard in the pole vault.

Schulz anchored the throws group and delivered one of the most consistent seasons on the team. She set personal bests in both shot put and weight throw, reaching 34' 4.75" (10.48m) in the shot and 41' 7" (12.67m) in the weight. Those marks place her 6th all-time indoors in shot put and 2nd all-time in weight throw for the Hawks. Schulz also secured a national qualifying mark in the shot put, further cementing her role as a top performer.

Valerie Ortega competed in three meets and made an immediate impact in the sprints. She recorded personal bests in the 55m, 60m, 200m, and 400m, with season bests of 7.87, 8.68, 29.80, and 66.48. Her performances in the 55m and 400m rank 10th and 9th all-time indoors, respectively, and she met the national qualifying standard in the 400m.

Daisy Flores competed in one meet but made it count, participating in the long jump and triple jump. She recorded marks of 13' 6.75" (4.13m) and 29' 9.5" (9.08m), with her triple jump landing her 7th all-time indoors for the Hawks.

Heading into the outdoor season, the Hawks have already positioned themselves well on the national stage. Ledinsky leads the way, currently ranked first in the nation in the 1500m and fourth in the 800m, establishing herself as one of the premier distance runners in NJCAA Division III. Reyna sits fifth nationally in the pole vault, continuing her steady rise in the event. In the throws, Schulz is ranked third in the shot put, solidifying her place among the top field athletes in the country. On the track, Ortega holds a top-15 national ranking in the 400m, coming in at 15th. With multiple athletes ranked near the top of their respective events, the Hawks enter the outdoor season with both confidence and national relevance.

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Players Mentioned

Kasey Ledinsky: Sophomore; Steeple / 800m / 1500m / SP / Hammer / Discus

Hannah Schulz: Sophomore; Shot Put / Hammer / Discus

Lucy Reyna: Freshman; Pole Vault / Triple Jump / 200m / 400m

Daisy Flores: Freshman; 100m / 200m / 400m / LJ / TJ

Valerie Ortega: Freshman; 100m / 200m / 400m

Players Mentioned

Kasey Ledinsky
: Sophomore; Steeple / 800m / 1500m / SP / Hammer / Discus

Hannah Schulz
: Sophomore; Shot Put / Hammer / Discus

Lucy Reyna
: Freshman; Pole Vault / Triple Jump / 200m / 400m

Daisy Flores
: Freshman; 100m / 200m / 400m / LJ / TJ

Valerie Ortega
: Freshman; 100m / 200m / 400m