Track & Field Sees All-American Performances, Shipley National Runner-Up

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Mount Vernon Nazarene University track & field team concluded the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Gainesville, Florida on Saturday, March 7.

Nationals began on March 5 with the women's 4x800 meter relay team of Ashley Yoder, Louisa Hallabrin, Allison Bonito, and Tammy Liplin. The team placed 21^st overall with a time of 9:34.52.

The men's 4x800 meter relay of Daron Porter, Simon Rohwer, Ryan Lehman, and Evan Hodkinson also ran in prelims on March 5 and won its heat with a time of 7:37.59 to advance to finals. The team ran in finals on March 6 and placed third overall with a school record time of 7:32.10, earning All-American status.

Hodkinson also ran in the 1000m prelims on March 5 where he advanced to finals with a time of 2:26.04. Hodkinson competed again on March 7 where he received All-American honors after placing eighth overall with a time of 2:27.06.

Tyler Shipley wrapped up nationals for MVNU with a phenomenal effort, placing as the national runner-up in the pole vault. Shipley placed second overall with a mark of 4.95 meters. This marks the second time Shipley has been an indoor All-American in the pole vault at MVNU.

As a team, the men placed 13th overall, the highest it has finished in school history.

Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, Ohio, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to nearly 2,200 students from 36 states, 1 U.S. commonwealth and 41 foreign countries.