GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Izabelle Trefts (Sr.) from The Evergreen State College women's track and field team earned second place in the USA Track & Field Half Marathon Race Walk World Team Trials and Invitational on Sunday, March 8. Katie Burnett, Evergreen assistant cross country and track and field coach, finished third. The race was held at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center.
Trefts qualified for the U.S. National Team that will compete in the Half Marathon at the Caixa World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brasilia, Brazil, on April 12. Burnett will compete for the U.S. National Team in the marathon at the race walking event in Brazil after qualifying earlier this year. It is the first time that the World Race Walking Team Championships will be held in the Southern Hemisphere.
In the half marathon on Sunday, Trefts achieved a time of 1:52:13 (one hour, 52 minutes, 13 seconds) to take second. She trailed only Lauren Harris of the New York Athletic Club, who won the half marathon race walk in 1:44:03. Third place was earned by Burnett with a time of 1:52:23. Maria Michta-Coffey of Oiselle/Walk USA was fourth in 1:52.40, and Miranda Melville of the NYAC was fifth at 1:58:13.
"Wow! What a great performance by Izzy!" Evergreen Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach Joel Pearson said. "Not only did she crush her first half marathon and qualify to represent Team USA, she also had the second fastest time in American history for the half marathon! It was absolutely inspiring to watch! What an awesome weekend for the Geoducks!"
The half marathon result was a great ending to a successful weekend for Trefts in Gainesville. On Friday, March 6, Trefts won her third NAIA national title in the women's 3,000-meter race walk at the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships. She earned a time of 13:11.95 as she set the NAIA and collegiate records. She has won back-to-back NAIA titles at Evergreen, after winning the 2023 title at Columbia College (S.C.) before transferring to the Geoducks.