Saints Snag an All-American on Day 1 at NAIA Outdoor Nationals

Gary Marshall

Men's Track and Field | 05/22/25 | 6:37 AM

Marion, Ind. – The Fighting Saints had a strong Day 1 at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Indiana Wesleyan University on Wednesday May 21 with the meet continuing through Friday May 23.

The day's top highlight came in the Men's Javelin where Reuben Hornby competed in his 2nd National Championships. Hornby threw a personal record (201 ft 6 in) on his 3rd throw to make the finals. His mark held up through the final round, placing him 2nd overall for his first career All-American award. Hornby had worked his way back from an injury and surgery over the course of the past year and entered the competition ranked 15th.

After 5 events in the Decathlon, Carson Krack sits in All-American position in 3rd while Tucker Monaco heads into some of his strongest events in 9th. The men will compete in the 110m Hurdles, Discus, Pole Vault, Javelin, and 1500m on Day 2. Both men placed in the Top 8 earlier this spring in the Heptathlon at the NAIA Indoor Championships.

Claire Bucklin raced in the 400m Hurdles, and Carroll's women and men ran in the 4x800m Relay. Bucklin and the relays did not advance to the final, but gained valuable experience for the future. Brycen Gardner ran in the 3000m Steeple semi-final for the 3rd year in a row, and he earned an automatic qualifier to the final Friday by placing in the Top 5 in his heat. Zack Gacnik ran a smart race in the 10,000m, but with tough competition he just missed out on scoring, placing 9th.

The Saints continue competition on Thursday and Friday. Beyond the multi-event athletes, Weston Means (High Jump), Madalen Shipman (800m), Gacnik (5000m), and Brynn Wandle (Pole Vault) will be in action on Thursday. For Shipman's 800m semi, the top finisher in each of 4 heats and the next 5 fastest times will move to Friday's Final. Shipman is in the 2nd heat. In the 5,000m, Gacnik will run in the 1st of 2 heats where the first 6 placers and next 4 fastest times will move on to the final Friday. Wandle's Pole Vault was delayed from Wednesday due to weather. Josh Smalley will Pole Vault for the men on Friday, as will Monaco who also qualified for the individual event.

The Saints' event schedule is as follows (times adjusted to Mountain Time from Eastern):

THURSDAY

8:00 am Decathlon (Krack, Monaco)

12:30 pm 800m Semi (Shipman)

2:30 pm High Jump (Means)

3:00 pm Pole Vault (Wandle)

5:35 pm 5k Semi (Gacnik)

FRIDAY

11:00 am Pole Vault (Smalley)

11:20 am Steeplechase Final (Gardner)

1:50 pm 800m Final (Shipman)

2:55 pm 5k Final (Gacnik)