ASHEVILLE, NC – Yemane Mulugeta made Spartans history Friday, winning Trinity Western's first-ever medal at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, as he captured bronze in the 5000m at the Karl Straus Track. 

Mulugeta clocked a time of 14:20.26 to cap an outstanding 2025-26 season in which the second-year Spartans captured a gold in cross country at the Cascade Conference Championships, finished third in cross country at the NAIA National Championships, won gold in both the 1500m and 5000m at the CCC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and set TWU records in the 1500m, 3000m (indoors) and the 5000m. 

TWU teammate Justin Kiplagat finished 15th in the 5000m in 15:12.67, while Eileen Noordam, who was the lone female competitor for the Spartans on Friday, finished 27th in javelin with a throw of 38.16m.

TWU Results at NAIA Championships
Men's Results 
200m 
17th – Danny Earles – 21.65 

3000m Steeplechase
12th – Malcolm Reid – 9:23.32Q

5000m
3rd – Yemane Mulugeta – 14:20.26
15th – Justin Kiplagat – 15:12.67 

10,000m
10th – David Mutai – 31:02.06

3000m Steeplechase 
DNS – Malcolm Reid 

Women's Results
Heptathlon
14th – Claire Nichol – 4379 points
100m Hurdles
12th – Claire Nichol – 15.31
High Jump
6th – Claire Nichol – 1.57m
Shot Put 
15th – Claire Nichol – 8.43m
200m
15th – Claire Nichol – 27.04 
Long Jump
8th – Claire Nichol – 5.21m
Javelin
14th – Claire Nichol – 24.63m 
800m
5th – Claire Nichol – 2:25.56

Hammer Throw
27th – Sarah Ude – 43.89m

Long Jump
7th – Sheleena Wiley – 5.79m 

Javelin
27th – Eileen Noordam – 38.16m

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 15 U SPORTS team championships and 35 Canada West team championships.

About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  

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