Birmingham, Ala. -- After capturing her second-consecutive conference title in the women's high jump and earning All-Region recognition earlier this week, Wheaton junior Grace Crowder traveled to Birmingham, Alabama for the 2026 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday. Crowder was making her debut appearance at the national meet as the first Thunder women's track & field athlete to qualify for the NCAA Indoor Championships since 2020. The New Hampshire native finished tenth in today's 20-woman high jump competition to earn a Second Team All-America accolade from the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). 

Crowder was one of five student-athletes to reach a final height of 1.67 meters (5' 5-3/4") in today's event to secure the All-America nod as a Top-16 finisher. The junior cleared the starting bar at 1.59 meters on her first attempt before remaining in contention thanks to a third-jump success on 1.64 meters. She then only needed two tries to make it over the third stage at 1.67 meters and ultimately finished her run just .02 meters shy of her indoor program record mark of 1.69 (5' 6-1/2") that she set one month ago at the Chicagoland Indoor Championships.

Her placement in the Top 10 of the event's standings this afternoon confirmed her status as the first women's indoor track & field All-America honoree for Wheaton since former outdoor National Champion, Favor Ezewuzie (2018-21).

Crowder's impressive showing marks the conclusion of the Thunder women's indoor track & field season, and her team will begin its outdoor schedule in two weeks' time at North Central College's First Chance Invitational.