NCAA Announces Zach Kehler as 800 Qualifier

INDIANAPOLIS – Three members of the University of Tampa track program have earned qualification to the 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as announced by the NCAA on Tuesday afternoon.

Representing the Spartans on the national stage will be men's middle-distance runner Zach Kehler in the 800 meters, while Allison Murphy qualified in the women's 400-meter hurdles and Hannah Diete secured a berth in the women's 1,500 meters.

Kehler earned his spot in the national championship field after recording a season-best time of 1:48.53 in the 800 meters, ranking among the top performers in Division II this season. Murphy qualified in the 400-meter hurdles with a top time of 59.25, while Diete secured her championship invitation in the 1,500 meters after posting a season-best mark of 4:23.33.

The 2026 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships will be held May 21-23 at Welch Stadium in Emporia, Kansas. Qualifying marks recorded from Feb. 19 through May 10 were considered for championship selections.

Kehler becomes the latest Spartan men's runner to qualify for the NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships, joining Gabe McConville (800 meters, 2025) and Shane Cohen, who qualified in the 800 meters in both 2021 and 2022.

On the women's side, Murphy and Diete become the first Tampa women's runners to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships since Jess Butler in 2010. Previous NCAA women's qualifiers for the Spartans include Allison Macsas in 2004, Laura Woznicki in 2008, and Butler in 2010.

The Spartans continue to build on a strong tradition in track and field, with Tampa student-athletes consistently competing at the national level across multiple events.

For complete championship information and the full list of NCAA Division II selections, visit NCAA.com.