Duke Women’s Track and Field Concludes 2025 Season with All-American Honors for Four Blue Devils at NCAA Championships

The 2025 outdoor track and field season ended on a triumphant note for the Duke Blue Devils women’s team, as four standout student-athletes earned All-American honors following impressive performances at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. A culmination of relentless training, competitive grit, and program-wide momentum, the recognition solidifies Duke’s rising national presence in women’s track and field and sets a promising tone heading into next year.

Throughout the spring, Duke’s women’s team demonstrated remarkable consistency and dominance across multiple disciplines—from sprints and middle-distance events to jumps and throws. Their efforts weren’t just about winning races or breaking records. This season was about establishing a culture of excellence that blends athletic success with academic discipline, team chemistry, and resilience in the face of fierce national competition.

Leading the All-American quartet is senior sprinter Madison McKinnon, who capped off her collegiate career by reaching the finals in the 400-meter dash and posting a personal-best time of 51.23 seconds. McKinnon’s performance landed her Second-Team All-American honors, the latest accolade in a career that includes multiple ACC titles and school records. She remains a pivotal figure in Duke’s track and field renaissance, credited not just for her medals but also for her leadership and mentoring of younger teammates.

For McKinnon, this season was about finishing strong and leaving a legacy. “I knew this was going to be my last season, and I didn’t want to just compete—I wanted to contend,” she said after her final race. “To wear this jersey, represent Duke, and now walk away with All-American honors—it means everything.”

Joining McKinnon in the All-American ranks is sophomore high jumper Olivia Carr, who soared to new heights—literally—by clearing 1.86 meters and tying for eighth place in one of the deepest high jump fields in recent championship history. Carr’s performance earned her Second-Team honors as well, and for a young athlete just coming into her prime, the feat signals that greater achievements may lie just around the corner.

Carr, who arrived at Duke as a raw but explosive talent, has evolved under the guidance of Duke’s technical coaching staff. “The coaching here has helped me become not just a better jumper but a smarter competitor,” she said. “There’s a difference between having talent and knowing how to use it on the biggest stage. This season helped me bridge that gap.”

Third on the list is junior distance runner Isabella Moreno, who placed 11th in the 5,000 meters, clocking a season-best of 15:47.01 in a blistering race that saw the lead pack stretch the field from the opening laps. Moreno’s endurance, tactical savvy, and consistent pace work earned her a Third-Team All-American designation—a fitting reward for a runner who quietly emerged as one of the most dependable scorers in Duke’s lineup this season.

Moreno’s path has been defined by steady progression and internal belief. After a rocky freshman year marked by injuries and inconsistency, she found her rhythm in 2024 and built on it this spring with top finishes at both the ACC Championships and NCAA Regionals. “There were times I didn’t think I’d ever make it to this level,” she said. “But I kept showing up, kept doing the work, and here I am.”

Rounding out the All-American selections is freshman phenom Jade Williams, whose explosive debut season in the triple jump has made her one of the most exciting young athletes in the NCAA. Williams stunned the field at Regionals to qualify for the championship and then delivered a personal best of 13.49 meters in Eugene, finishing ninth overall to claim Second-Team honors. Her emergence represents more than just individual promise—it also points to Duke’s success in recruiting and developing elite talent right out of high school.

Williams’ mix of power, poise, and raw potential was evident from the start of the season, but her ability to deliver on the national stage has vaulted expectations for her future. “This is just the beginning,” Williams said. “Coach believed in me from day one. The team believed in me. That gave me the confidence to believe in myself. I’m already thinking about next year and how much better I can get.”

Together, McKinnon, Carr, Moreno, and Williams form a formidable core that showcases the depth and versatility of Duke’s women’s track and field program. But their success is not isolated. Rather, it reflects the collective momentum the team has built over the past few seasons under head coach Shawn Wilbourn and his staff, whose vision of comprehensive athletic and personal development has become a cornerstone of Duke’s identity.

“This year was about taking another step forward,” Wilbourn said. “We’ve been building toward this kind of championship presence, and to have four All-Americans is a testament to our athletes’ hard work and the commitment of everyone involved in this program. The bar is higher now. That’s a good thing.”

Indeed, the 2025 outdoor season saw Duke women consistently punch above their weight at both the conference and national levels. The team finished top five in the ACC Championships, secured multiple NCAA qualifying spots across track and field events, and recorded several school and personal records along the way. The success wasn’t confined to the superstars either; depth and role players stepped up throughout the campaign, showing that the team’s foundation is as solid as its front line is talented.

The team’s performance also reinforces the growing importance of women’s sports at Duke. As the athletics department continues to prioritize support for female athletes through investments in facilities, training staff, and academic resources, track and field has become a shining example of what’s possible when opportunity meets preparation. Several of this season’s All-Americans—including Williams and Carr—have spoken about how Duke’s supportive infrastructure allowed them to stay healthy, focused, and empowered to chase their goals.

In the classroom, too, the team has excelled. Duke’s women’s track and field athletes posted a combined GPA above 3.5 this year, with multiple Academic All-ACC selections highlighting their commitment to balance. The program’s emphasis on holistic development is paying dividends not just in the win column, but in the lives and futures of its student-athletes.

Looking ahead, the 2026 season offers plenty of intrigue. With McKinnon graduating, there will be a leadership vacuum to fill. But the return of Carr, Moreno, and Williams ensures that the team will remain competitive on the national stage. Add in a talented incoming freshman class—highlighted by two U.S. U20 national finalists in the 800 meters and pole vault—and the Blue Devils appear well-positioned to maintain and even surpass their current trajectory.

Recruiting will also play a critical role in sustaining Duke’s rise. This year’s All-American performances serve as a powerful message to potential recruits that Duke is a place where talent is nurtured and big-stage success is achievable. Already, the program is drawing attention from high school stars across the country who see Duke not just as a prestigious academic institution, but as an emerging athletic powerhouse in women’s track and field.

As the 2025 outdoor campaign fades into the record books, there is no denying the upward arc of Duke’s women’s track and field. The All-American recognition for McKinnon, Carr, Moreno, and Williams is more than individual honor—it is confirmation that Duke belongs in the national conversation. And perhaps more importantly, it signals that the best may still be yet to come.

For now, the Blue Devils can reflect with pride on a season well-run, a standard well-set, and a future filled with potential. The final gun may have sounded on this campaign, but if the echoes of 2025 are any indication, the roar from Durham will only grow louder.