By MEGAN SPRAY
The 2026 track and field season at Northwestern Oklahoma State University has been a year of growth, resilience and rising expectations as the Rangers continue to build a competitive program.
After years of development, the team is now seeing progress translate into results across multiple events.
“The season has been really good, especially for the mid-distance and distance side,” said Cadence Long-Torres, a junior psychology major from Moore, Oklahoma. “We’ve had a lot of success in the 5K, the mile and the 1500. From indoor to outdoor, everything has just continued to grow.”
That growth reflects a shift in mindset. Instead of simply developing, athletes are now focused on maintaining a strong culture and raising expectations.
“I feel like this year we have more developed athletes who are ready to compete and win,” Long-Torres said.
Success has also extended to the sprint and field events. For Gabriella Hall, a sophomore nursing major from Frisco, Texas, the season has brought personal improvement and a stronger sense of team unity.
“This season felt great,” Hall said. “My freshman year, my sprints weren’t as good as my jumps, and now that I’ve focused more on sprints, it feels a lot better to finally have success in that, as well as, all together.”
Hall also pointed to the team’s chemistry as a key factor in its improvement.
“It actually felt like a team this year,” she said. “Everybody’s getting a lot closer, and you feel like you can rely on one another more.”
While the team has made clear strides, the season has not come without challenges. Trevon Hodge, a sophomore business major from Copperas Cove, Texas who competes in jumps, said the program has faced adversity, including changes within the coaching staff.
“Last year was slightly better, but we’re going through a little adversity,” Hodge said. “Our coach left for a bigger job, so I’ve had to step up and help lead the group.”
Despite those challenges, the Rangers are entering the conference with confidence and motivation. A projected sixth place finish has only added fuel to the team’s mindset.
“We were predicted to finish sixth, and nobody’s happy with that,” Hodge said. “We feel like we have the potential to finish first, second or third.”
Lone-Torres said the women’s team is anticipating a fourth place finish, but competing for the number one spot.
“A lot of movement, a lot of moving parts, but all the work that has been put in since January to now is all coming together,” Long-Torres said.
For Hodge, competing at Northwestern carries personal meaning beyond results.
“Coaches took a chance on me,” he said. “I feel like I have to give back what they gave me.”
As the Rangers head into the final stretch of the season, their focus remains on competing, trusting the process and continuing to prove how far the program has come. The Rangers are competing at the GAC track meet this Wednesday through Friday