ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Thirteen student-athletes represented the Spring Arbor University men's and women's track & field teams at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, held over three days at Karl Straus Track in Asheville, North Carolina.
 
The Cougars produced three All-American performances during the national meet.
 
Leading the way on the women's side was Alyssa Budd, who earned her first career All-American honor with an eighth-place finish in the long jump. Budd recorded a leap of 5.75 meters (18-10.5) in the national finals.
 
On the men's side, Camden Khon delivered a third-place finish in the 1500 meters, crossing the line in 3:59.65 to earn All-American recognition. The honor marked the ninth All-American performance of his career between the indoor and outdoor seasons. Khon also improved upon his fifth-place finish in the event from a year ago and finished just 0.46 seconds behind the national champion.
 
Dean Reynolds also secured All-American honors, placing sixth in the 800 meters with a time of 1:52.60. Reynolds now owns 10 career All-American finishes between the indoor and outdoor seasons.
 
Additional national qualifiers for the Cougars included Kylie Brown in the 200 meters, where she placed 24th with a time of 24.68, and Tanana Emmendorfer in the 400-meter hurdles, finishing 26th in 1:03.25.
 
The women's 4x100-meter relay team of Budd, Brown, Emmendorfer and Hope Taylor placed 22nd with a time of 47.17.
 
On the men's side, Elijah Dyer finished 25th in the 400-meter hurdles in 54.92 while Chase Hobson placed 29th in the 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:59.99.
 
The men's 4x800-meter relay team of Jacob Singleton, Jack Bruder, Benjamin Schefka and Reynolds also competed at the national meet, placing 12th overall in 7:32.27.
 
University of British Columbia captured the women's national title with 101 team points, while University of the Cumberlands claimed the men's championship.
 
The national meet capped another successful outdoor season for the Cougars, highlighted by multiple school records, conference champions and All-American performances on the national stage.