LA CROSSE, Wis. – Wellesley College track & field senior Ella Whinney (Madison, Wis.) saved her best performance for last, earning fifth in the 3000m Steeplechase finals at the NCAA Division III Championships. The event is taking place at Veteran's Memorial Field Sports Complex and is hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Whinney's 10:28.86 time will stand as the Blue program record for the foreseeable future. The time is nearly eight seconds faster than Whinney's previous program-best mark. Whinney remained in the top-half of the race the entire way, fighting tooth and nail for fourth while staving off several other competitors. The fifth place finish earned four team points for the Blue, its first team finish at the event since 2023 when Whinney placed eighth.

The senior has collected a second career NCAA All-American honor, presented to the top-eight finishers in the race. With the second All-America honor, Ella Whinney joins Ari Marks '22 and Randelle Boots '13 as the only multi-time All-Americans in Blue track & field history.