Submitted by The Evergreen State College
Izabelle Trefts (Jr.) of The Evergreen State College won the NAIA Championship in the women’s 3,000-meter race walk at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday, Feb. 28 at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center. Trefts earned All-America status while setting the Evergreen school record and the Alachua County facility record with a time of 13:53.46.
It was the second national title for Trefts in the indoor 3,000-meter race walk. She also won the race walk at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships while attending Columbia College in South Carolina before transferring to Evergreen.
Other recent championships for the Geoducks include current Associate Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Zeb Hoffman winning the NAIA Championship in the men’s hammer throw at the 2016 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships and Alauna Carstens (Jr., So. in indoor track) winning the NAIA Marathon Championship in December of 2024.
Trefts won this year’s championship in the 3,000-meter race walk by 27.52 seconds. Alexa Governor from University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) was second in 14:20.98 and Ashlyn Poulin from Southeastern University (Fla.) was third in 14:27.52. Ava Newkirk of Cumberlands placed fourth at 14:37.69. Grace Forrest from University of Rio Grande (Ohio) was fifth at 14:42.00.
”I’m really happy with my race,” Trefts said. “I went into it trying to stay relaxed and focus on my form and staying consistent, and I kept that mindset throughout the race. I really wanted to get a personal record and break that 14-minute mark, and I’m really happy that I was able to do that. I had a really fun race, and I am so happy with my win and very excited about my PR.”
Evergreen’s coaches also were happy with Trefts’ race.
“What an epic performance from Izabelle!” Evergreen Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joel Pearson commented. “Since arriving on our beautiful campus in August, we had the goal of winning this championship! The last few months of training have had some high moments, and low moments, but she remained positive throughout. Seeing Izabelle conquer the race walk was a really special moment.”
“”As an athlete, I always wanted an NAIA Championship win and never got it,” said Evergreen Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Katie Burnett. “I gained a lot of knowledge after I graduated and feel so privileged to be able to pass that knowledge down to the athletes I coach. Izabelle’s win today was all her. You can coach and talk to athletes, but being able to execute is something that only the athlete can do. She made the race her own and never let up. We are so proud!”
Carstens Places Third in NAIA in 3,000-meter Run
Alauna Carstens (Jr., So. in indoor track) from The Evergreen State College earned third placed in the women’s 3,000-meter run at the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, March 1. Carstens recorded a time of 9:43.40 and claimed All-America honors at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center.
“I’m so proud of Alauna!” said Evergreen Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joel Pearson. “After her epic fall marathon victory, she bounced back with personal records in the mile, 3k, and indoor 5k. Heading into NAIA Nationals, we knew that it would be a slow start and a very fast last mile. She did just that! Third at nationals is awesome!”
Evergreen finished in 18th place in the women’s team standings with 16 points. It was the best finish this season by a Cascade Collegiate Conference women’s team.
On Saturday, the women’s 3,000-meter run was won by Ellen-Mary Kearney from Milligan University (Tenn.) with a time of 9:38.57. Defending champion Hannah Fredericks of The Master’s University (Calif.) was second in 9:39.78. After Carstens grabbed third place, Sharon Jemeli from University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) took fourth place in 9:46.77. Katie Clarke from Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) placed fifth at 9:48.56. A total of 12 runners competed in the final, with the top eight earning All-America status.
The top five finishers were in a lead group for most of the 3,000-meter championship race. Each of the five runners held the lead at some point. Carstens was in front before Kearney put on a strong finish over the final 300 meters.
“Alauna raced with so much heart today,” Evergreen Assistant Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Katie Burnett noted. “You can’t control how other people race, and seeing her take the lead and run her race made me so proud. Third place is awesome and there’s more to come!”
With Saturday’s All-America performance, Carstens has gained All-America recognition during four different championship events. She earned All-America honors in cross country in 2023 with a 15th place finish at the NAIA Championships. In the spring of 2024, she received All-America status with a seventh place finish at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. This past December, she registered All-America honors by winning the NAIA Marathon Championship.
“From All-America honors in cross country, the outdoor track and field 5k, and the marathon, to the indoor 3k, Alauna can do it all!” Pearson said.
It was the second top-three finish at the NAIA Indoor Championships for the Geoducks. On Friday, Izabelle Trefts (Jr.) won the women’s 3,000-meter race walk in 13:53.46 while setting the Evergreen school record.
“I’m very excited about the women’s team placing 18th at NAIA Nationals!” Pearson commented. “It’s an honor to be the top women’s program from the Cascade Collegiate Conference at nationals! It was a great weekend to be a Geoduck!”
Parker Borrero Wins CCC Championship at 160 Pounds
Flor Parker Borrero (Jr.) from The Evergreen State College won the championship in the 160-pound weight class and was chosen Outstanding Wrestler of the Meet at the 2025 Cascade Collegiate Conference Women’s Wrestling Tournament, presented by U.S. Bank, on Sunday, March 2 at the Redding Civic Auditorium. She is the first individual CCC champion for Evergreen in women’s wrestling.
Parker Borrero received a bye in the quarterfinals and then won by falls in the semifinals and the championship match. She improved to 18-0 on the season while earning All-Conference recognition for the second year in a row. The top three finishers in each weight class are named All-Conference.
During the semifinals, Parker Borrero pinned Jocelyn Velasco from Eastern Oregon University just 20 seconds into the match. In the championship match, Parker Borrero pinned Quilaztli Miguel-Lapham in 54 seconds.
In addition to winning the CCC title at 160 pounds, Parker Borrero earned a berth into the 2025 NAIA Women’s Wrestling Championships set for March 14-15 in Park City, Kansas. Parker Borrero received All-America honors last season after placing sixth in the 155-pound weight class at the NAIA Championships.
Nizhoni Tallman (Sr.) and Ellabelle Taylor (So.) will join Parker Borrero at the 2025 NAIA Championships. Tallman took fourth place in the 110-pound weight class and Taylor was fourth in the 124-pound weight class at the CCC Tournament. Tallman and Taylor also competed at the NAIA Championships in 2024.
On Sunday, Tallman lost in the quarterfinals at 110 pounds to Kayla Shota from the University of Providence (Mont.) by a technical fall 10-0. Tallman rebounded with a technical fall of 16-6 against Nia Avelino from Eastern Oregon in the consolation first round. In the consolation semifinals, Tallman outscored Telsarina Walter of EOU 10-0 for a technical fall. In the third place match, Shota defeated Tallman with a 10-0 technical fall.
After losing to Malia Welch of Southern Oregon University 12-6 in the quarterfinals, Taylor downed Joy Jeramiah from Simpson University (Calif.) by technical fall 10-0 in the consolation first round. Taylor defeated teammate Erica Grant (So.) of Evergreen 14-7 in the consolation semifinals. Grant began the day with a 13-3 win by technical fall against Brooklyn Jones of EOU and a 13-3 loss by technical fall to Alyssa Randles in the semifinals before taking on Taylor in the consolation bracket. In the third place match, Welch defeated Taylor 12-4.
Dovhoruka placed fourth in the 180-pound weight class. She won her quarterfinal match with Addrie Rodriguez from Simpson with a fall at 5:48. In the semifinals, Bailey Dennis of SOU defeated Dovhoruka with a fall. Dovhoruka received a bye in the consolation semifinals before losing to Kyree Rubio of Westcliff University by technical fall 12-1 in the third place match.
Evergreen placed fourth in the team standings. Southern Oregon took first place with 166.5 points, while Providence claimed second place with 162.5 points. Eastern Oregon was third with 98.0 points, and Evergreen followed with 74.0 points. Westcliff was fifth with 47.5 points and Simpson placed sixth with 30.0 points.
