By Zachary Shore, NAIA Media Coordinator

GULF SHORES, Ala. - (Complete results) Concordia (Neb.) men earned their first ever men’s banner while Wayland Baptist won its third women’s national championship at the 2015 NAIA Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field National Championships at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium on Saturday.

There were two women’s national championships records set during the event while two schools recorded their first-ever individual champion and five individual’s repeated as national champions.

Wayland Baptist Head Coach, Rohan Thompson was named the women’s Coach of the Year has the Pioneers tallied 91 points to best runner-up Oklahoma Baptist by 25 points. On the men’s side, Kregg Einspahr of Concordia (Neb.) took home Coach of the Year honors as the Bulldogs scored 59 points to edge co-runners-up, Wayland Baptist (Texas) and Indiana Tech by four points.

Oklahoma Baptist’s Elizabeth Dadzie and Concordia’s (Neb.) Zach Lurz were given trophies as the Most Valuable Performers for scoring the most points in their respective national championships.

Maria Bernard of British Columbia was named the women’s Most Outstanding Performer as she repeated as the 3,000m Steeplechase champion and won the 5,000m while also breaking the championship record in the latter event in the prelims on Friday night. The Harry Gill Men’s Outstanding Performer was given to Kale Wolken of Doane (Neb.) who won the defended his Decathlon title while also earning All-American status in the long jump and javelin.

Along with Bernard, Alexis Browner of Wayland Baptist also won a pair of individual titles on the track.

On the men’s side, the event came down to the 4x400-meter relay where the Bulldogs were able to edge out the Warriors on the final lap  to win the event by four points. On the women’s side, the Pioneers dominated the meet with three individual champions and a pair of relay crowns.

The event was hosted at the Gulf Shores Sports Complex for the second straight year. The official list of the 2014 Outdoor All-Americans will be announced on Monday, May 26.

For more championship information, click here.

Harry Gill Men’s Outstanding Performer (Selected by the Games Committee)
Kale Wolken – Doane (Neb.)

Women’s Outstanding Performer (Selected by Games Committee)
Maria Bernard – British Columbia

Men’s Most Valuable Performer (based on total points scored in competition)
Zach Lurz – Concordia (Neb.)

Women’s Most Valuable Performer (based on total points scored in competition)
Elizabeth Dadzie – Oklahoma Baptist

Women’s Coach of the Year (voted on by coaches)
Rohan Thompson – Wayland Baptist

Men’s Coach of the Year (voted on by coaches)
Kregg Einspahr – Concordia (Neb.)

Records broken during 2015 NAIA National Championships
• Molly Josephs (Missouri Baptist) – Women’s 5,000 Meter Race Walk – 24:15.86 (Friday)

• Maria Bernard (British Columbia) – Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase – 30:20.17 (Friday)

Institutions to record first-ever national championships individual title – men’s history
• Friends (Kan.) – Derek Racette, Javelin (64.65m)

• William Carey (Miss.) – Geoffrey Kipchumba, 10,000m – 30:20.17

Individuals/Relay Teams to repeat as national champions –men’s history
• Kale Wolken, Doane (Neb.) – Decathlon – 7,356 points

• Gauge Aebersold (Siena Heights) - Shot Put – 18.17m (59-7.50)

• Wayland Baptist – 4x100 Meter Relay - 40.25

Individuals/Relay Teams to repeat as national champions –women’s history
• Jennifer Maag, Hastings (Neb.) – Shot Put – 15.44m

• Maria Bernard (British Columbia) – Women’s 3,000 Meter Steeplechase – 10:12.44