GAINESVILLE, FL – LC State Track and Field exceeded expectations on the first day of the 2025 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Gainesville, Fla., on Thursday. Both distance medley relays, along with triple jumper Trenton Johnson, finished above their seeding heading into the day.
Johnson started the weekend for LC State in the triple jump and finished second in the first flight. He entered as the No. 25 seed and finished 12th overall with a season-best mark of 14.44m.
The women’s distance medley relay team of Grace Tiegs, Emily Collins, Camille Ussher and Damaris Kibiwot placed 11th overall and narrowly missed the final cut with the top 10 teams advancing. The group ran a time of 12:16.31, and all four will be in action tomorrow in individual events.
On the men’s side, the team of Tristin O’Brien, Preston Cooper, Griffen Parsells and Kobe Wessels placed 22nd in the field with a time of 10:25.53. The women’s team was seeded 15th heading into the weekend and the men were 23rd.
“A couple of really close ones on the first day,” coach Mike Collins said. “Thought TJ (Johnson) might have had a chance of making the final after finishing second in the first flight. The women’s DMR finishing as the first team out is hard to swallow, but proud of them. Men’s DMR raced hard but knew they needed to finish in the top two and bit off just a little too much. Looking forward to tomorrow as we have seen our runners come back all year with great second days, plus Sydnie will get into the mix. The team has a great attitude and is determined to compete hard tomorrow.”
UP NEXT
The Warriors continue at the national meet on Friday with seven individuals in preliminary races and Sydnie Zywina in the long jump.