Molina Sisters Claim All-American Honors on Opening Day

PUEBLO, Colo. – Another season, another All-American finish for Della and Iresh Molina, making their second-consecutive appearances at the NCAA DII Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The twins strung together outstanding races against the best 10,000m runners in the nation, refusing to allow the higher elevation to slow them down. 

Both runners had been ready to take on the best in the country in the 10,000m since their outstanding races at the Stanford Invite in early April.

Last season, the twin sisters debuted at the NCAA National Championships in the 5000m. Still, they proved they could exceed last year's limit, earning First Team All-American finishes in the 10,000m event.

Iresh finished in fifth place, with her best podium finish at the national stage, clocking a time of 35:27.10. Della Molina was only two seconds behind her in sixth, crossing the line at 35:29.86.

Each distance runner enters a race with a strategy to get the most out of their efforts, but when you're running alongside experienced competitors, it becomes a battle of grit. The Wildcats showcased their willpower to push through the exhaustion and anxiety of waiting around for a late-night event. 

The sisters have shared the track with the champion of the event last season in the 5000m, Brianna Rhobles (Adams State), both keeping her in their sights throughout roughly 7000 meters of the race. A strong runner from Texas, the senior kept shaving off time of the pace, and the Wildcats were determined to stay on her heels for as long as possible. 

With a day of rest, the Chico natives will make their second appearance in the 5000m on Saturday at 7:05 pm (PST), hoping to snag their second All-American finish of the year and improve on their 2024 benchmarks in Emporia.