PREVIEW: Bears Open Outdoor Season Saturday at Jack Christiansen Invitational

Saturday, March 28

Fort Collins, Colo.

All Day

University of Northern Colorado

Jack Christiansen Invitational

Photo by: Kim Spurny, UNC Athletics

3/26/2026 1:33:00 PM | Men's Outdoor Track & Field, Women's Outdoor Track & Field

Meet Information

By: Brooke Richards, Director of Strategic Communications

GREELEY, Colo. — Northern Colorado Bears opens its outdoor season Saturday at the Jack Christiansen Invitational, competing at Jack Christiansen Track against a strong regional field hosted by Colorado State Rams.

Northern Colorado enters the meet building off a strong indoor campaign that saw multiple program records, all-time marks and conference-level performances. The Bears will look to carry that momentum outdoors as they begin tuning up for the Big Sky season.

MEET INFORMATION
Jack Christiansen Invitational
Date: March 28
Location: Fort Collins, Colo.

BEARS TO WATCH: Northern Colorado's indoor season was highlighted by record-setting performances and continued progression across event groups, setting the stage for a strong outdoor opener.

On the women's side, Camaria Corder headlines the jumps group after resetting the program record in the triple jump multiple times during the indoor season, reaching 13.01m (42-8.25). Her mark ranks among the top in Big Sky history and positions her as a contender entering the outdoor campaign.

In the sprints and hurdles, Daniel Beckford continued to climb the record book indoors, posting one of the fastest 60m hurdle times in program history. He transitions into the 110m hurdles outdoors with momentum and expectations of competing near the top of the conference.

Field events remain a strength for the Bears, with Kiana Van Haaren emerging as one of the top long jumpers in program history after moving to No. 2 all-time indoors. She will look to carry that form into the outdoor season.

In the high jump, Tyler Rogers consistently cleared marks in the 2.03m–2.06m range during the indoor season, positioning himself as a reliable scorer heading into outdoor competition.

BUILDING OFF INDOOR SUCCESS: Northern Colorado closed the indoor season with multiple all-time performances and steady improvement across the roster. The Bears saw continued development in both sprint and field events, with several athletes moving into the program's top-10 lists.

The transition to outdoor competition presents new opportunities, particularly in events like the throws and longer hurdle races, where UNC athletes look to expand on their indoor success.

UP NEXT: The Bears will split next weekend, with some athletes competing at Stanford and some at the Jerry Quiller Classic at CU.

RELAY CLUB: The Relay Club elevates the UNC Track & Field and Cross Country program by enhancing training resources, providing advanced shoes and apparel, and competitive travel opportunities that allow the Bears to perform at their best. These contributions enhance the student-athlete experience and help ensure the team continues to excel on the track and in the classroom.

Give to the Relay Club today!

FOLLOW THE BEARS: For complete coverage of UNC Athletics, check out the official homepage at uncbears.com. Follow the cross country and track and field teams on X (formerly Twitter) (@UNC_BearsTFXC), and Instagram (@UNC_BearsXCTF).