The Ashland University men's indoor track & field team reached the podium for the fifth time in the last six years at the NCAA Division II Championships, as the Eagles placed fourth on Saturday (March 10) in Pittsburg, Kan.
The Eagles had five All-American performances on Saturday to go along with three earned on the first day of the meet.
Junior Myles Pringle won the national championship in the 400-meter dash, becoming the fastest Division II athlete ever in the event with a time of 45.93 seconds. It was his third national title in the event, and he will have a chance for four during the 2018 outdoor season.
Pringle was the national runner-up in the 200-meter dash, breaking his own school record and running the fifth-fastest Division II time in history, crossing the line in 20.96 seconds.
The Cincinnati native finished in a tie for sixth in the high jump, clearing 2.08 meters. He also anchored the 4x400 relay, which won the silver medal with a time of 3:10.44. Freshmen Channing Phillips, Trevor Bassitt and Brenden Archer joined Pringle in that race, earning All-America status.
On the throwing side, senior Elijah Talk became a four-time All-American in the shot put with a top throw of 18.29 meters. Sophomore Jake Glass was 17th in the nation with a heave of 16.81 meters.
For the women's team, senior Marie Hammer competed in the pentathlon, coming in 13th place with 3,556 points. Her top event was in the long jump, where she finished fourth with a mark of 5.69 meters.
Freshman Gianna DiPippo was 19th in the women's shot put at 13.86 meters.
Pitt State won the men's national championship with 49 total points. Tiffin (48) was second, Adams State (44) third and Ashland (40.5) fourth.
West Texas A&M claimed the women's national title with Western State and Lincoln (Mo.) in second and third, respectively. The Eagle women finished tied for 29th nationally as a team.
The Eagles will now turn their attention to the outdoor season, which begins in two weeks in South Carolina.
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