EUGENE, Ore. (May 29, 2026) – Senior Ryker Holtzen ran his last race in the Brown and Gold with his semifinal appearance in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Wednesday, in Eugene, Ore.

Holtzen would place 12th in heat one, 23rd overall, with a time of 8:48.43.

"This is as hard a way to end a great career there is," said assistant coach for distance runners Scott Dahlberg. "He was looking good in the tough part of the race and made the right moves to be in it, but unfortunately, he got shouldered and tripped up going into the barrier and fell hard over it."

Near the midway point of the race, the field was fighting for space while running up on a barrier when the action around Holtzen caused him to somersault over the barrier before landing on his back. This undoubtedly took him out of contention to finish Top 5 for a spot in Friday's final, but it never broke his spirit to cross the long one last time.

"Jostling happens, but you'd give a lot to have the race be a fighting chance on his own terms, Dahlberg added. "This one stings, but it doesn't take away everything he's done over his time at UW and what he has meant to us and our program."

From Jermone, Idaho, Holtzen wraps his Cowboy career as the 3,000-meter Steeplechase school record holder and holds four No. 2 program times.

"Ryker's been a rock in the program for the past five years as a person, teammate and athlete," said Dahlberg. "His qualities and characteristics got him to this level."

"When we recruit student-athletes, we look for as many of those traits as possible. Not many possess them all as he does."

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