Yankton, SD – Lisa Voyles stood tall on the podium Friday afternoon, finishing atop the 1,000-meter field. She claimed the first national title in women's track & field program history.
 
Voyles paced 2:53.71 in the five-lap affair, registering as a new collegiate best for the Patriot. It came close to breaking an eight-year program record set by Darcy Mascotti in 2013, missing the mark by 0.37 seconds.
 
The Danville, KY native led the eight-competitor field through the first lap before hanging back with the group to carry through the following two laps. She began her break partway through the third and opened up on the final 200 meters to win by almost three seconds.
 
Voyles claimed NAIA All-American honors for the first time of her career, following a 14th-place finish a season ago. She noted the best time of the preliminary heat two days prior to her appearance in the finals, following it up with a new career best by roughly three seconds.
 
It was the second-year runner's fourth time winning the event in her career. Voyles previously led the semifinals on Wednesday as well as placed first at the Kentucky Collegiate Indoor Invitational back on February 20. She was the conference champion in the 1,000 meters last season too.
 
The Patriots have noted six All-American honors for the 1,000 meters in program history including Voyles. Previously, the best finish in the event was third place. Between both the men's and women's team, Voyles is the first national champion during the indoor season since 2019.
 
Also competing in Friday's finals was Jenna Grogan, who placed 14th overall in the 3,000-meter racewalk. In her first career showing at the national meet, the sophomore crossed the line with 18:15.49 showing on the clock. She recorded her second-fastest time of the season.
 
Rounding out Cumberlands' trip to the national meet will be Carson Johnson, making an appearance in the racewalk finals on the men's side. The starting gun is planned to go off at 10 AM eastern.
 
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