Marian Brings Home First-Ever NAIA National Championship Behind Walk-Off Relay Championships
GAINESVILLE, Fla. - For the first time in program history, the Marian men's track and field has captured the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championship, as the Knights scored a team-record 57 points on the final day to walk-off as NAIA National Champions. Marian ended the championship with a program-record 74 points, ending their first national title with back-to-back relay wins.
The Knights opened the day with the mile race, as Charles Leedke looked to earn an All-American nod. In the race, Leedke battled through a tight pack of five runners throughout the race, holding in the top-eight throughout the four-plus minute event. Leedke would settle into a seventh place finish, missing out on sixth place by less than 0.2 seconds as his time of 4:11.21 held the seventh position.
Marian scored big in the 600m, as the Knights trio of Eric Materna, Richard Dube, and Olivier Lifrange took the track. Lifrange ran in the first of the two heats, winning comfortably as he recorded a lifetime best 1:17.76 in the section. Materna and Dube ran in the second section, with Materna blazing around the track in a 1:17.86 time, finishing second in the heat. Richard Dube finished fifth in the heat with a personal best time of 1:18.72, finishing on the heels of Materna. Materna slotted into third in the final group, while Dube placed fifth overall. Lifrange would stand as the national runner-up in the 600m, as he and his teammates combined to score 18 team points for the Knights overall score.
Brenden Endres competed in the pole vault, as the Knight finished 16th overall, matching his seed entering the week. Endres cleared the first bar at 4.60m on try one, and at 4.65m Endres passed on his second crack at the bar. Attempting 4.70m, Endres was unsuccessful in his three tries, settling into 16th place overall.
Competing in finals in their respective events were Jeremiah Brown and Tristan Trevino, as they closed down Marian's individual action on the track in the 60m and the 800m. Brown finished seventh in the 60m as he battled leg tightness, grinding out a time of 6.81 to score two points to the team total. Trevino clocked a 1:50.48, matching the school record set by current-distance and cross country coach Presley Martin, with his time good to place fourth overall in the 800m. Trevino added five points to Marian's total with his effort.
Christian Rios looked to add to his mantle as he competed in the shot put, but came up short as the weight throw champion missed out on the finals, placing 11th overall in the event. Rios hit on throws of 16.20m and 16.21m, but was unable to reach finals, falling seven centimeters short of the championship round.
Marian's first of two relay races on the day was the distance medley relay, as the Knights entered the event confident with the lineup of Owen Pittman, Eli Givens, Mason Piatt, and Tristan Trevino. Entering the penultimate event, the Knights held the national championship lead of four points over the University of the Cumberlands, with both schools entered in the final race. Marian got off to a rapid start in the DMR, as Pittman, Givens, and Piatt held a lead for the majority of the opening 2400 meters. Tristan Trevino battled as he got the baton, going neck and neck to the finish line as he raced against the University of the Cumberlands and Spring Arbor. Entering the final turn of the race, Trevino came down the straightaway with a full head of speed, bolting to the side of the Patriots anchor. Trevino edged out the his opponent by 0.01 seconds, shouldering across the line to give Marian their first-ever NAIA championship in the event.
The DMR win for Marian increased their lead on the Patriots to six points, setting up the chance to win the national championship with the 1600 meter relay. The Knights lineup for the 4x400m relay was the team of Olivier Lifrange, Richard Dube, Raif Miller, and Eric Materna, as the group looked to close out the championship. The Knights competed out of the second heat, going in knowing they had to beat the Patriots time of 3:10.81. The team got off to a quick start, taking the lead immediately in the race. Materna brought home the championship, busting to the line as he accomplished a Marian school record with their time of 3:09.83.
The win for the Knights secured a walk-off championship, as their first-ever win in the 4x400m relay captured the team championship, driving Marian's team total to 74 points. The Knights secured their championship by 10 points over the University of the Cumberlands, who finished as the runner-up with 64 points.
After the conclusion of the national championship for Marian, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Katie Wise was named as the NAIA Indoor Coach of the Year.
The national championship for the Knights is the sixth NAIA Red Banner in school history, and is Marian's first since their 2019 NAIA National Championship in volleyball. Marian has won two championships in women's basketball and two championships in football in addition to their volleyball and newly minted NAIA Track and Field Championship.
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