Men's Track and Field Competes at NAIA Nationals

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Doane men's track and field team wrapped up competition at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships with six team points and a tie for 40th place at Karl Straus Track, highlighted by a pair of All-America performances in the throwing events. Doane finished tied with Hastings, Northwestern (Iowa), Tabor and Trinity Western in the final standings with six points.

Senior Christopher Brown led the Tigers with a fifth-place finish in the discus, earning All-America honors and four team points. Brown uncorked a throw of 51.13 meters (167 feet, 9 inches) to finish among the nation's top throwers and score in one of the championship's deepest events. Fellow Tiger Cale Bessler also earned All-America recognition, placing seventh in the shot put with a toss of 16.72 meters (54 feet, 10.25 inches) to score two points for Doane.

Bessler doubled back in the discus and placed 14th overall with a mark of 45.35 meters (148-9), while Andrew Englund added a 16th-place showing at 44.95 meters (147-6).

The Tigers were represented in several throwing disciplines throughout the championship meet. Andrew Schmitz placed 11th in the hammer throw with a toss of 56.88 meters (186-7), while Tad Dimmitt finished 17th at 50.34 meters (165-2). In the shot put, Schmitz placed 21st with a throw of 15.44 meters (50-8), and Colton Dillon added a 25th-place effort at 14.98 meters (49-1.75).

On the track, senior Michael Grigsby represented Doane in the men's 1,500 meters and finished 20th in the preliminary round in 4:03.70. Freshman Tommy Smith competed in the 110-meter hurdles and clocked a time of 14.67 seconds to place 18th overall in the preliminary round.

Doane's 4x400-meter relay team of Caleb Mulder, Orion Ulmer, Connor Bradley and Joaquin Gutierrez narrowly missed a berth in the championship final, placing ninth in preliminaries with a time of 3:12.35 — just one position outside of advancing.

The championship concluded a strong season for the Tigers, who returned home with two All-America performances and national-level experience across the throws, hurdles, distance and relay events.

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