BROOKINGS, S.D.— Dustin Blevins earned NAIA All-American honors in both the long jump and the triple jump, highlighting an exciting few days for the Montreat men's indoor track & field team at the 2022 NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Brookings, S.D. The Cavaliers scored 14 team points from March 3-5, tying for 22^nd place as a team against competitors from 105 schools.
 
In the 57^th annual edition of the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships, Blevins performed superbly. On Friday, Blevins earned his first All-American nod in the long jump. The King, N.C. native soared 7.54m in his second attempt, setting a new school record while simultaneously vaulting himself into the top three. Blevins' mark ultimately proved good enough for a third-place finish, earning the Cavaliers six team points in the process.
 
"The competition was great," Blevins said. "This year, everybody came out and jumped well."
 
Blevins continued his spectacular weekend with another remarkable showing on Saturday in the triple jump. Sitting outside the top three heading into his third jump, Blevins launched himself up to second place with a Montreat-record leap of 14.97m. Blevins remained in second through the conclusion of the triple jump, garnering NAIA All-American status and tallying eight more team points for the Cavs.
 
Dylan Branch ran admirably in the 1,000m prelims on Friday, marching to an 11^th-place finish with a time of 2:29.38. The Avon Park, Fla. native ultimately fell a single tenth of a second shy of qualifying for the finals.
 
Ethan Stamey was the only Cavalier to compete on Thursday, the first day of the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships. The freshman from Franklin, N.C. ran his 5,000m preliminary race in 15:20.97 and placed 27^th in the 31-runner field.
 
Micah Matheson was Montreat's fourth and final competitor on the men's side. Matheson, a native of Germantown, Ohio, was one of five athletes in the pole vault that didn't clear the starting height of 4.55m.
 
"Dustin had a solid showing after overcoming adversity during the competition," said head coach Chester Hightower. "Dylan Branch and Ethan Stamey were very competitive, and I look forward for Micah Matheson to bounce back during the outdoor season."
 
For a full list of results from the national championships, click here.
 
"Looking back at the weekend, it was a very honorable and gritty performance all the way around," Hightower added. "I am also simply grateful we were able to come to this meet healthy and safely and give the kids an opportunity to use their platform with grace. We have some of the best coaches in the NAIA. I cannot emphasize enough how much I am looking forward to competing this outdoor season."
 
The Montreat men's track & field team now turns its attention to the outdoor season, which begins with the CIU Rams Invitational on March 18-19 in Columbia, S.C.