NCAA | Live D2 track results
NCAA | Live D2 track video
 
Virginia Beach, Va.----Wingate University senior Luca Poppe won the men's 5000 meters national championship in the NCAA Division II indoor track and field championship meet inside the Virginia Beach Sports Center Friday. Poppe's gold-medal time was 13:47.22.
 
Poppe was one of three first team All-Americans for the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold-clad Bulldogs Friday. Senior Lars Laros finished sixth in the men's 5000 meters, thanks to his time of 13:52.38. Laros earns his second consecutive first team AA trophy in the indoor 5000 meters.

What They Are Saying
Wingate assistant track and field coach Pol Domenech
 
"This championship was a long time coming for Luca Poppe. He has arrived to the last few national championships with the ability to win…and he was able to get it done Friday. It was a hard-fought race, where he took responsibility at about the half-way mark. It was a tough final where he battled some of the top distance runners in the nation, including his teammate Lars Laros. We are excited to see what he can do Saturday in the 3000 meters."
 
Sumpter and DMR quartet give Wingate three AA awards Friday
 
The Wingate Distance Medley Relay (DMR) squad finished eighth with its time of 9:46.87, giving senior Deon Sumpter his third first team All-American trophy during his four-year WU tenure. He helped the Bulldogs win a national title in 2023 and earn a third-place finish in 2025. Sumpter ran the second leg each time.
 
In order of appearance, Sumpter was joined by sophomore Niels Peeters, junior Levente Palvolgyi and sophomore Arthur Faroux Friday. Peeters and Faroux were making their NCAA Division II indoor track and field national championship debuts. Sumpter's three amigos earn first team All-American honors for the first time in their respective WU track and field careers.
 
More Friday NCAA news, in chronological order…
 
Women's Long Jump finals
 
- Junior Ally Holmberg finished 16th with her leap of 5.69 meters
- Holmberg will compete in the women's pentathlon Saturday
- Miranda Lauvstad from Minnesota State won the event (6.34 meters)
 
Men's Mile Run preliminaries
 
- Junior David Holman qualified for Saturday's championship final
- Holman ran the third-fastest time in prelims (4:04.74)
- Mohamed Dahmouch finished 11th in prelims (4:07.25)
- Matthew Brunnock finished 15th in prelims (4:11.33)
 
Women's Mile Run preliminaries
 
- Junior Evie Brooks qualified for Saturday's championship final
- Brooks ran the second-fastest time in prelims (4:47.83)
 
Men's 800 meters preliminaries
 
- Freshman Klaus Scholz qualified for Saturday's championship final
- Scholz ran the fourth-fastest time in prelims (1:49.325)
 
Men's 5000 meters finals
 
- Luca Poppe collects his third indoor AA award with Friday's natty
- Poppe was a two-time first team indoor AA in '25 (3000 meters, DMR)
- Lars Laros earns his second first team indoor AA award in the 5000 meters
- Laros finished eighth in the '25 NCAA indoor 5000 meters (13:54.96)
- The Bulldogs had four student-athletes in the 5000 meters final
- Senior Antonin Saint Peyre finished 15th (14:15.25)
- Junior Samuel Gilson finished 17th (14:27.83)
 
Women's 5000 meters finals
 
- Freshman Abigail Bester finished 16th in the championship final (17:23.93)
- Bester will compete in the women's 3000 meters final Saturday
- Bester is one of three 'Dogs making their first NCAA indoor appearance
- The others: junior multi-eventer Ally Holmberg and senior thrower Amber Lawless
 
Men's Distance Medley Relay (DMR) finals
 
- Pittsburg State (Kansas) won the DMR event by 0.004 seconds over UIndy
- The PSU Gorillas defended their '25 DMR national title with Friday's victory
- The top three: Pittsburg State, Indianapolis and Grand Valley State
- The next five: NW Missouri, CSU Pueblo, Missouri S&T, Lee and Wingate
 
 NCAA fun facts, live results and video
 
- Wingate has six events on tap for Saturday
- WOMEN: Pentathlon, Shot Put and 3000 meters championship finals
- MEN: Mile run, 800 meters and 3000 meters championship finals
- Wingate's 14 student-athletes are the most WU has sent to NCAA indoors
- The 'Dogs sent 14 to the '25 indoor NCAAs and the '24 outdoor NCAAs
- NCAA partner Leone Timing is providing live results at this link
- Bulldog fans can watch live NCAA indoor track and field video at this link
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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