LA CROSSE – Dylan Parker and Jacob Curulewski of the Carthage men's track & field team competed on day three of the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Parker competed in the 400-meter finals, while Curulewski took on the 5,000 meters as both athletes continued their national championship appearances.


Breaking the school record for the fourth time this season, Parker crossed the finish line in 47.06 to place sixth overall, beating his previous school record of 47.13. Entering the finals ranked ninth, Parker battled through the field and surged to a First Team All-American finish.

Moving strategically from 22nd to 11th place over the course of 12 and a half laps, Curulewski earned Second Team All-American honors in the 5,000 meters. Curulewski crossed the finish line in 14:34.00.


"We knew that Dylan getting into finals without having to run a personal best was going to set him up to run well today," said head coach Cale Brown. "Dylan is always ready for the big moment, and we were all confident that even though he was the last guy into the finals, we knew he was going to find a way on the podium. It's just amazing to watch all of his hard work in the off-season pay off. Dylan did the work when no one was watching, and when you mix that intrinsic motivation with great support from family, coaches, and teammates, great things happen. What a great way to end a great season."

"What a great way for Jacob to close off his stellar running career at Carthage!" said head coach Josh Henry. "He came in as the last seed in the 5k and moved all the way up to an 11th-place finish with a really gutty race. I'm also super proud of how he bounced back after being pretty disappointed with his 10k performance on Thursday. It takes a special kind of toughness to bounce back like that. Jacob is leaving our program as easily the most decorated distance athlete in school history, and propelled our program forward. Much of the program's growth was a direct result of his performances, but the biggest impact came from his example. He made everyone around him better, and he really showed what it means to be a fearless competitor. We are going to miss his presence big time next year, but I know we have a lot of guys eager to carry on the legacy he's leaving. A great day, and a great year to be a Firebird!"