CHICAGO, Ill. -- The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced its Division III All-Midwest Team Wednesday afternoon, with two Vikings representing North Park University Track & Field. Julia Klein (Pole Vault) and Wesley McCloud (High Jump) earned themselves an all-region nod for their incredible performances in their respective events during the 2026 outdoor season.
Julia Klein was dominant all season with three 1st place finishes, along with a 2nd and 3rd place finish. She reached higher and higher heights as the season progressed, clearing 3.70m for her first 1st place finish at the Wheaton Invitational at the end of March. Three weeks later she soared over a 3.76m jump, setting a meet record for the Cougar Invitational hosted by Concordia University, to earn her second 1st place finish. This 3.76m mark was good for 23rd in the country, strengthening her chances to make an appearance at Nationals. Klein's final 1st place finish came at the Augustana Penultimate Qualifier where she set another meet record and new season best 3.87m jump, good for 15th in the country.
Wesley McCloud had a strong and consistent outdoor season, notching five top-five finishes in the high jump. He opened with a 5th place finish at the North Central First Chance Invitational, clearing 1.90m. Two weeks later, McCloud would earn his highest finish of the season after jumping an impressive 2.00m, which saw him finish 2nd at the Chicagoland Championship hosted by Elmhurst and logged the 37th best jump in the country. He went on to finish 4th at the Don Church Twilight meet hosted by Wheaton, where he flew over a 1.93m height. McCloud followed this up with another 2nd place finish at the Cougar Invitational after a 1.89m finish, before earning a 4th place finish at the CCIW Outdoor Championships with a 1.97m jump.
Klein ends the regular season as the only Viking to qualify for nationals where she will compete against the country's best this weekend at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, with events starting on Thursday, May 21st at 11am. Klein is set to compete at noon.
