BROOKINGS, S.D. – [RESULTS] The 58th annual running of the NAIA Men’s Indoor Track & Field National Championships kicked off on Thursday at Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex (SJAC).  The three-day national meet is hosted by Dakota State (S.D.) for the fifth straight year, the fourth time in the last five years that the national meet was held at SJAC.

• The 2023 national indoor track & field meet started with the heptathlon.  Sixteen heptathlon athletes competed in four different events – the 60-meter dash, long jump, shot put, and high jump.
• There were three lead changes in the first three events in the heptathlon, with Jaden Haldeman of Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) after claiming the top time in the 60-meter dash in 6.98 seconds. 
• Mason Schleis of Mount Marty (S.D.) overtook the lead after leaping 6.82 meters (22 feet, 4.5 inches) for the top mark in the long jump.
• A third lead change occurred after the shot-put event, with Cole Wilson of Keiser (Fla.) grabbing the lead after tossing 12.82 meters (42 feet, .75 inches).  Treshawn Roberts of Dakota State (S.D.) moved into second place in the heptathlon standings after throwing the top mark of 13.02 meters (42 feet, 8.75 inches).
• The top two spots remained unchanged after the high jump event of the heptathlon.  Wilson cleared the high jump of 2.00 meters (6 feet, 6.75 inches) to collect 803 points.
• Wilson leads the heptathlon standings with 3,049 points, while Roberts is second with 2,897 points.  Schleis holds a third-place edge with 2,793 points, followed by Justin Moeller of William Penn (Iowa) after tallying 2,760 points.
• The heptathlon continues Friday morning at 10 a.m. (Central Time) with three remaining events, starting with the 60-meter hurdles, and wrapping up with the 1000-meter run.  They will also compete in the pole vault after the 60-meter hurdles.
• A pair of runners from Dordt (Iowa) – Peter Shippy (heat 2) and Davis Tebben (heat 1) - were the heat winners for the 5000-meter run semifinals.  The 5000-meter run national final is set for Saturday at 4 p.m. (CT).
• Thursday’s meet consisted of three relay events.  The top two teams in each heat (3 total heats) and the next two fastest times secured a spot to the national finals.

• The final three events on the first day were all relay events.  The top two teams in each heat (3 total heats) and the next two fastest times secured a spot to the national finals.

• Grace (Ind.) captured the top time in the 4 x 800-meter relay with a time of 7 minutes, 38.59 seconds.
• Life (Ga.) is attempting to repeat the 4 x 400-meter relay national title after registering the top time in the prelims.  They finished with a time of 3 minutes, 12.45 seconds.  The 4 x 400-meter relay national final is set for Saturday at 5:15 p.m. (CT).
• The day wrapped up with the distance medley relay (DMR) event.  Milligan (Tenn.) edged St. Mary (Kan.) for the top time in the prelims.  Milligan hit 10:00.37, while St. Mary recorded a time of 10:01.66.  The DMR national final is scheduled for Saturday at 4:20 p.m. (CT).

Friday’s schedule will see six different national titles to be crowned.  The 3000-meter racewalk is set for 11:25 a.m. (CT)  Three field events are set on the same day, starting with the weight throw at 12 noon (CT).  High jump is slated for 2 p.m. (CT) and concludes the field events with the long jump at 4 p.m. (CT). 

Numerous semifinal running races will start at 12:20 p.m. with the 1-mile run and wraps up with the national final in the 4 x 800-meter relay at 5:35 p.m. (CT).