Joseph, Kipyego Earn First Team All-America

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Rachel Joseph and Darius Kipyego secured First Team All-America honors in the final day of the 2025 NCAA Indoor National Championships. With both the women and men scoring, Iowa State makes for the first time since 1999-2000 for both to score at indoor nationals in back-to-back years.

In the two section final of the women's 400m, Joseph clocked 51.58 crossing the line second in the first section behind Arkansas' Isabella Whittaker who ran the collegiate and American record with 49.24. Joseph passed two runners out of the final turn, and her time would go on to place her fifth. It's her third-fastest time indoors. With the finish, the ISU women take 43^rd in the team standings.

Joseph earns her first First Team All-America distinction and is now a three-time All-American after earning Second Team 400m honors in both the 2024 indoor and outdoor season. Joseph, still the only woman in ISU history to qualify for indoor nationals in the 400m, is now the one and only to earn First Team honors in the event. Through indoor and outdoor women's history, Joseph is one of four to earn First Team All-America in the 400m.

Soak it in, Rachel. #CycloneSZN pic.twitter.com/kySduOKewX
— Iowa State Track & XC (@CycloneTrackXC) March 15, 2025

Kipyego scored for ISU next with his seventh-place finish of 1:48.79 in the 800m final, good for two team points and First Team All-America. Kipyego also earned First Team honors last indoor season in the 800m, making him just the second man through Iowa State indoor history to earn multiple. Kipyego joins elite company in national champ and three-time indoor 800m First Team All-American Edward Kemboi.

Thai Thompson kicked off day two of the heptathlon clocking an all-time best of 8.33 in 60m hurdles, worth 900 points. Next came the pole vault, where Thompson opened at 15-0 clearing the bar on his first go, also clearing 15-3 3/4 and 15-7 3/4 on the first attempt. Thompson would end the event with 15-11 3/4 (4.87m) on his second try for sixth place and 871 points, moving into 14^th place.

Then came the 1,000m, where Thompson raced to second in a personal best time of 2:37.63 (900 points) to rise up to 10^th in the overall standings with 5,690. Thompson becomes a Second Team All-American with the finish, ISU's first All-American indoor multi (male or female).

Braden Goellner made his first national appearance, and earned Honorable Mention All-America competing in the high jump after being unable to clear the opening bar of 6-11 (2.11m). The sophomore closes indoor season as the third-best indoor high jumper in ISU history (7-3, 2.21m) and as the Big 12 silver medalist. Goellner is the fourth man in ISU men's history to earn indoor high jump All-America honors.

The Cyclones now turn to outdoor season with the Charles Austin Invite in San Marcos, Texas Saturday, March 22.

Iowa State Results

Heptathlon 60m Hurdles (M): 1. Edgar Campre, Miami – 7.88; 15. Thai Thompson, Iowa State – 8.33 (PR)

Heptathlon Pole Vault (M): 1. Justin Abrams, Cincinnati – 17-3 1/2 (5.27m) 6. Thai Thompson, Iowa State – 15-11 3/4 (4.87m)

High Jump (M): 1. Tyus Wilson, Nebraska – 7-5 3/4 (2.28m); Braden Goellner, Iowa State – NH

Heptathlon 1,000m (M): 1. Jack Turner, Arkansas – 2:35.49; 2. Thai Thompson, Iowa State – 2:37.63 (PR)

Heptathlon Overall (M): 1. Peyton Bair, Mississippi State – 6,013; 10. Thai Thompson, Iowa State – 5,690

400m Final (W): 1. Isabella Whittaker, Arkansas – 49.24; 5. Rachel Joseph, Iowa State – 51.58

800m Final (M): 1. Matthew Erickson, Oregon – 1:46.43; 7. Darius Kipyego, Iowa State – 1:48.79

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Players Mentioned

Braden Goellner

Rachel Joseph

Darius Kipyego

Thai Thompson

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics