University of Idaho junior Constanze Paoli capped a record-breaking season with a second-team All-American honor after finishing 11th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase final at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Eugene, Oregon, on June 13.
Paoli crossed the line in 10:08.28, a time that ranks among the five fastest of her career. The finish made her the fourth Vandal woman ever to earn All-American recognition in the steeplechase, joining Letiwe Marakurwa (2003), Alycia Butterworth (2015), and Katja Pattis (2025). It also made Paoli the 13th Vandal woman in program history to receive an All-American honor following an outdoor season.
A Record-Setting Path to Eugene
Paoli’s run to the national final was built on a string of milestone performances. The native of Alzenau, Germany broke the Idaho school record in the steeplechase during the regular season, then won the Big Sky Conference title before taking her heat at the NCAA West Regional. She reset the school record again in the national semifinal on Wednesday before stepping into Friday’s final.
Head coach Tracy Hellman praised the effort Paoli put in throughout the championship meet. “What a finish for Constanze today at the NCAA steeplechase finals,” Hellman said in a public statement. “Just getting to this stage is very difficult, and she did great, attaining All-American honors.”
Vandals Claim Two All-American Honors in One Year
Paoli was not the only Vandal to earn national recognition in Eugene. Blake Sturgis claimed a second-team All-American award in the men’s javelin, giving Idaho two All-American honorees in the same season — something the program has not achieved in over a decade.
Hellman called the combined achievement a point of pride for the entire program. “Leaving Eugene with two All-American awards is something that is super impressive, and the coaching staff is very proud,” she said.
Paoli’s honor in the steeplechase also continues a streak of consecutive years in which an Idaho woman has earned All-American recognition in the event, with Pattis having done so in 2025. As a junior, Paoli will have the opportunity to return to the national stage in 2027 and potentially build further on what is already one of the most decorated steeplechase careers in Vandal history.
What Comes Next
With the 2026 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship now concluded, the University of Idaho program will shift focus to offseason training and preparation for the 2026–27 indoor and outdoor seasons. Paoli’s return as a senior will make her one of the most closely watched distance runners in the Big Sky Conference. For updates on Vandal athletics and Idaho education news, visit coverage of Idaho school funding decisions and stay connected with local stories at Idaho News.