Outdoor Track: IU East at NAIA National Championships Preivew
RICHMOND, Ind. - Six athletes will represent Indiana University East at this week's 2026 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships in Asheville, North Carolina.
Vanessa Temple and Thomas Hogan are in action on the opening day of the event at the Karl Straus Track on Wednesday, May 20.
Temple is competing in the second heat of the semifinals in the women's 400-meter hurdles at 4:30 p.m., while Hogan will be in the third heat of the men's 3,000-meter steeplechase semifinals at 7:55 p.m. The finals for both races are slated for Friday, May 22.
On Thursday, May 21, there will be four participants in the finals of the 5,000-meter race walk. Sarah Perry and Makenzee Kahn are scheduled for the women's event at 4:45 p.m. Cameron Nocton and Alex Rost will be in the men's race walk at 5:15 p.m.
FOLLOW THE MEET
The Karl Straus Track is located on the University of North Carolina-Asheville campus at 600 Wellness Way, Asheville, NC 28804.
Spectators must purchase tickets in advance here.
Live results and a live stream are scheduled to be available. Meet Program.
YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
* Nocton is seeded fourth in the men's race walk with a time of 20:55.70, which puts him in contention for what would make him a six-time NAIA All-American in track. Last fall, he won the NAIA Marathon for another All-American honor as the Red Wolves won the national title. Nocton's top national finish came indoors this year as he was second in the 3,000-meter race walk. The top eight finishers are designated as All-Americans.
* Temple posted her qualifying time of 1:02.92 in the 400-meter hurdles at the River States Conference Championships earlier this month as she won the title for the third year in row. In addition to track, Temple was a four-year soccer player for the Red Wolves and she was named All-RSC Second Team in 2025.
* Hogan finished second at the RSC Championships in the men's 3000-meter steeplechase as his time for nationals was 9:20.24. He was also part of the IU East men's cross country team that competed in the national championships last fall.
* Perry was second in the race walk during the RSC Championships with a time of 30:14.38. Perry finished 13th during the 2026 NAIA Indoor National Championships.
* This is Kahn's second appearance at the outdoor championships and her eighth national event during her career. She has competed twice at the indoor track championships along with two times each in cross country and the NAIA Marathon.
* Rost was sixth at this year's RSC Outdoor Championships with a 25:22.79 to earn his first trip to a national event.