LARAMIE – Ryker Holtzen will proudly carry the brown and gold banner for Wyoming at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships this week in Eugene, Ore.
 
The senior from Twin Falls, Idaho, is determined to put an exclamation point on a brilliant career in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, starting with the national semifinals scheduled for 6:38 p.m. Wednesday at historic Hayward Field.
 
Holtzen is the Mountain West champion and UW record holder in his signature event. He could have to beat his personal best time 8 minutes, 34.06 seconds to advance to Friday's final.
 
"I'm riding high," Holtzen said on the One Wyoming Podcast. "It makes me really thankful to be a part of this program and to wear the brown and gold and for the amazing people I have around me here. I'm feeling very blessed to be here and to be going back (to the NCAAs)."
 
During last year's national championships, Holtzen earned second-team All-American honors by finishing 15^th in the semifinals. However, only the top 12 finishers advance to the final.
 
Holtzen believes he is prepared to react to any style of race this time.
 
"I think I'm going into it with some experience and knowledge maybe some guys don't have," he said. "I remember last year in that race a really big move being made and I just really struggled to match that. I feel something this year through training and even in races that I've seen I've been able to match that and make that pick up. I know that will happen going forward and I'm ready for it."
 
Holtzen is bursting with confidence after a clutch performance at the West Regional in Fayetteville, Ark. After watching two fast heats, the composed Cowboy knew he would have to finish in the top three of the third heat to qualify for the NCAA Championships.
 
Before the final barrier jump into the water, Holtzen made his charge, took the lead and won the heat in 8:36.81 to punch his ticket.
 
"The first two heats ran quick, so we walked out there and I think everybody in my heat was a little shocked. It kind of set in that we might not take time qualifiers," Holtzen said. "The race we went out slow. The first (kilometer) was pretty slow and I knew there was going to be a big move made and I knew we weren't going to take a qualifier, and I had to put myself in the top three.
 
"I stayed pretty calm, collected and got through, got to that last lap and knew I could win it."
 
Holtzen and fellow senior Jacob White leave a legacy at UW that will endure.
 
The duo led the Cowboys to the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2024. On the track, White owns the school record in the indoor 5,000 meters (13:32.97) and Holtzen is second on the all-time list (13:38.73). White (3:58.89) and Holtzen (4:00.37) are also one-two in the indoor mile.
 
White was an All-American last season in the outdoor 1,500 and owns the UW record with a time of 3:40.52. Holtzen (3:44.78) ran the seventh-fastest time in UW history in the event.
 
"It was nice to do well, and it was great to do it with him. He's the best runner I've ever known, he's amazing," Holtzen said of White, who did not qualify for the NCAA Championships after competing well in Eugene in 2025. "I think we're both happy, maybe not (for) being remembered in any way but just pushing this program in the right direction. We hope we leave a mark here that brings in other recruits. They see that we're names that can be seen on the national stage."
 
Eight of the 12 athletes in Holtzen's semifinal heat have run the event faster than his personal best time. The top five finishers in each semifinal and the next two best times advance to the final set for 6:24 p.m. Friday on ESPN2.

But Holtzen is highly motivated to run two more races wearing the brown and gold.
 
"I want to do well for me, I want to do well for this program, this school," Holtzen said. "I'm really proud of my time here, really proud of this school, and I want to put on for all that."
 
Follow Ryan for more stories on Wyoming athletics on X at @By_RyanThorburn on Facebook at Wyoming Athletics and Instagram at wyoathletics. Also follow him at Pokes Insider at Gowyo.com/pokesinsider.
 
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