Brookings, S.D. – William Carey claimed its first ever NAIA Men’s Indoor Track and Field National Championship as the 2020 event came to end earlier this evening.
William Carey won titles in five events and totaled 82 points; Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) posted its best finish, placing second with 50; followed by last year’s national champion, Indiana Tech, with 48.6.
Crusaders sophomore Dante Brown was named the Outstanding Performer, winning the national title in both the 60m and 200m; Brown was the runner-up in the 60m last year. Other championships won by William Carey; the 4×400 relay, Ineh Emmanuel in the long jump and Malik Crandle in the triple jump.
Olivet Nazarene’s Wesley Meyer scored the most points by an individual and was named the most valuable performer. Meyer won the mile, anchored the winning distance medley relay and was the runner-up in the 3000m.
Matthew Van Eps of Dordt (Iowa) pulled away from a tight pack in the final 50m to win the 800m with a time of 1:53.41; Van Eps was also part of a Dordt distance medley that finished a close third to Olivet Nazarene and St.Francis (Ill.)
Rasheen Brown of Milligan (Tenn.) won his second consecutive 60m hurdle championship, breaking his own championship record previously set in Friday’s semifinal.
Freshman John Hunter James of Columbia International (S.C.) won the championship in a competitive pole vault field that featured last year’s champion, Seth Wilmoth of Westmont (Calif.), Levi Sudbeck of Doane (Neb.), this year’s heptathlon champion, and another freshman, Tyce Hruza from Doane.