University of Lynchburg

Amaya Bellfield earned a place in Lynchburg equestrian history by capturing the individual national championship in Open Fences at the 2026 IHSA National Championship. She became the first rider in Lynchburg history to claim first at the IHSA National Championship in any class. Her impeccable performance contributed eight points to Lynchburg’s team total, helping her squad secure a fourth-place finish for the highest result on the national IHSA stage in program history. Bellfield also delivered a third-place finish in Open Flat, adding seven more points and highlighting her success across both Open divisions.