Women's Relay Team Wins Title at NAIA Nationals

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Doane women's track and field delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships, highlighted by a national championship and school-record run in the 4x400-meter relay at the Alachua County Events Center.

The Tigers finished tied for sixth place in the final team standings with 27 points, matching Life and placing among the top programs in the nation. Marian (Ind.) captured the national title with 51 points, followed by Dickinson State (41) and Central Methodist (33). Indiana Wesleyan and Olivet Nazarene tied for fourth with 30 points.

Doane's signature moment came in the meet's final event as the Tiger quartet of Kat Vogt, Jayden Meyer, Kiley Hejtmanek and Tania Gleason captured the national title in the 4x400-meter relay. The Tigers crossed the finish line in 3:42.32, setting a new school record while defeating runner-up Life (3:43.81) and Indiana Tech (3:44.04). Doane entered the 4x400-meter relay final after qualifying third in the preliminaries with a time of 3:45.17 from the lineup of Vogt, Gleason, Hejtmanek and Danie Parriott.

The relay championship delivered 10 points and capped a productive weekend for Doane that included scoring performances across multiple disciplines.

Vogt also earned All-America honors individually in the 400 meters, placing third in 54.40 after advancing through the prelims with a time of 54.91.

Gleason added another scoring performance in the 200 meters, finishing eighth in 24.62 after qualifying for the final with a preliminary time of 24.49.

In the 60 meters, Neryah Hekl reached the national final and placed seventh in 7.57, adding two points to the team total.

The Tigers added points in the field events as well. Kennedy Stanley placed sixth in the pole vault, clearing 3.75 meters (12-3½), while Jayden Meyer finished sixth in the triple jump at 11.92 meters (39-1¼). Kyla Davis also scored in the event with an eighth-place finish at 11.84 meters (38-10¼).

In the throws, Mia Knigge earned All-America honors with an eighth-place finish in the weight throw, recording a mark of 17.08 meters (56-0½).

Doane also had several athletes competing on the national stage outside the scoring positions. In the 600 meters, Parriott placed 14th in the prelims (1:34.69) while Jayden Meyer finished 17th (1:35.59). In the 200-meter prelims, Vogt placed 13th (24.71) and Elizabeth Wemhoff finished 14th (24.72).

The Tigers were also represented in the field events by Trinity Becher in the weight throw, Madison Heusinkvelt and Delaney Burge in the shot put, and Avery Scott and Kaylee Pribyl in the pole vault.

The championship relay performance closed the meet in dramatic fashion, giving the Tigers a national title, a school record and a top-six team finish on the sport's biggest stage.

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