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Chicagoland collegiate athletic conference
Men's Track and Field NAIA Championship Preview
Posted: Mar 04, 2026

Men's Track and Field NAIA Championship Preview

CRETE, Neb. — The Doane University men's track and field team will be represented by 16 student-athletes at the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships, scheduled for March 5-7 at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center at Celebration Pointe in Gainesville, Florida.

The Tigers qualified competitors across multiple event groups, including throws, jumps, distance, and multi-events, along with a Distance Medley Relay team. Doane enters the national meet following a dominant performance at the GPAC Indoor Championships, where the Tigers captured the conference title with a record-setting team score.

Leading the field contingent are throwers Cale Bessler (Sr.), Christopher Brown (Sr.), Colton Dillon (Sr.), and Andrew Schmitz (Sr.), all of whom qualified in the shot put. Schmitz also earned a national berth in the weight throw, joined by Tad Dimmitt (Sr.) and Jaden Vollenweider (Jr.).

In the jumps and multi-events, Brian Cech (Jr.) qualified in both the long jump and triple jump, while Andrew Harms (Jr.) will compete in three events — the high jump, long jump, and heptathlon. Addison Croghan (Jr.) also secured a national spot in the heptathlon.

Doane's distance group features Michael Grigsby (Sr.) in the mile, Porter Bickley (So.) in the 3,000 meters, and Alvin Keter (So.) in the 5,000 meters.

The Tigers also qualified a Distance Medley Relay squad consisting of Luke Bonifas (Jr.), Eli Marez (Jr.), Emmanuel Yego (Sr.), Michael Grigsby (Sr.), Jayden Wall (So.), and Porter Bickley (So.). Final relay lineups will be determined prior to competition.

Competition begins Thursday, March 5, and runs through Saturday, March 7. Live results and coverage will be available through Half-Mile Timing.

Doane enters the national meet looking to build on its conference championship momentum against the top NAIA programs in the country.

Doane Men's Track & Field — 2026 NAIA Indoor National Qualifiers

(Listed by Event Group)

Throws

Jumps

Multi-Events

Distance Events

Relays

 

 

 

 

 

(generated by ChatGPT)