By Katie Green, Manager of Athletic Communications and Media

GULF SHORES, Ala. – [RESULTS] Eight national champions were crowned on Thursday, the first day of the 2018 Men’s and Women’s Outdoor National Championships in Gulf Shores, Ala., at the Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.

Individual Champions

Women’s Hammer: Carlie Vannatta, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), 57.0m

Men’s Hammer: Erik Escobedo, Bethel (Ind.), 66.41m

Women’s Javelin: Bailey Dell, Northwest Christian (Ore.), 47.43m

Women’s Pole Vault: Sheila McKinley, Siena Heights (Mich.), 4.00m

Women’s Long Jump: Taishia Pryce, Wiley (Texas), 6.25m

Men’s Javelin: Hunter Drops, Oregon Tech, 65.40m

Women’s 10,000m: Aminat Olowora, Oklahoma City, 34:53.20

Men’s 10,000m: Geoffrey Kipchumba, William Carey (Miss.), 31:26.22

Highlights

• There were eight events that were finals on Thursday: women’s hammer, men’s hammer, women’s javelin, women’s pole vault, women’s long jump, men’s javelin, women’s 10,000m and men’s 10,000m.
• Sheila and Tasha McKinley, twin sisters from Siena Heights (Mich.) competed in the pole vault in both the indoor and outdoor championships. Tasha finished first in the indoor championship and Sheila finished third. Today, Sheila finished first and Tasha finished sixth.
• Erik Escobedo of Bethel (Ind.) is the 2018 men’s hammer champion and also set the record for the 35-pound weight throw for indoor track as the 2018 indoor champion.
• For the men, after day one, Hastings (Neb.) leads with 11 points. Oregon Tech Bethel (Ind.) and William Carey (Miss.) follow close behind with 10 points.
• For the women, after day one, Oklahoma City leads with 16 points. Grand View (Iowa) follows with 14 points.
• Grand View boasts the highest total of student-athletes who finished in the top five of the eight events that went to the finals on day one.
• Bethel (Ind.), Hastings, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.), William Carey and William Woods (Mo.) had two student-athletes that finished in the top five of the eight events that went to the finals on day one.

Up Next

Day two of competition will take place on Friday. The decathlon and heptathlon will open the day at 10 and 10:30 a.m. All events will start on time pending weather.

Friday Start List – CLICK HERE

Schedule – CLICK HERE

How to Watch

Stretch Internet, the NAIA's official video-streaming company of NAIA national championship events, will be broadcasting the events on www.NAIANetwork.com. A subscription package to view the entire three-day event is $19.95. For more information, including how to register and sign-up for an account, CLICK HERE