ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The Montreat College men's and women's track & field teams resumed competition on Thursday at the 2026 NAIA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Asheville, N.C. With five events on the docket following a pair of lightning delays, the Cavaliers won a historic national title and captured an additional national runner-up performance.
 
After Emma Barnes notched 2,873 points during the initial day of the heptathlon, she kicked off Thursday's slate with the final three competitions of her multis event. By ending seventh (35.89m), ninth (2:29.92) and 16^th (4.75m) in the javelin, the 800m and the long jump, respectively, Barnes added 1,775 points to her overall score. In the end, the senior's 4,648-point tally proved good enough for ninth in the final standings. Barnes landed just 120 points and one placement shy of achieving NAIA All-American status in the event.
 
Brock Lauer and Hugo Petat-Hemono opened the men's portion of the meet for the Cavs on Thursday afternoon. Running in the 3000m steeplechase prelims, both Montreat student-athletes punched their tickets to tomorrow's final. Lauer wrapped up the second heat in third place, automatically earning a chance to compete again on Friday. The McPherson College product turned in a 9:17.63, sixth-fastest among 31 participants. Petat-Hemono registered the fourth-quickest time in the third heat and the 13^th-fastest time overall with his 9:23.34 showing. The effort advanced the Amilly, France native to tomorrow's championship race as well.
 
Inclement weather resulted in a delay of more than three hours, but that didn't slow Nathan Cremin down in the men's 800m prelims. The Gardner-Webb University transfer entered the event with the fastest time this season, and he didn't disappoint on Thursday, coasting to first overall with 1:48.71 performance. With his finish, Cremin inevitably secured a spot in tomorrow's 800m final.
 
Heather Murphy made history when the women's 10k final eventually rolled around late on Thursday. Starting the race with the top time in 2026, Murphy lived up to the billing. A native of Portarlington, Ireland, Murphy gradually pulled away from the competition, crossing the finish line in 34:49.16 to defeat a 19-runner field and claim her first NAIA national title. The championship also signified the first individual NAIA women's national title in Montreat College history. Along with the 10k crown, Murphy also garnered NAIA All-American recognition.
 
"It felt unreal," Murphy said. "I just felt relieved to be finished. All the hard work paid off. All the hours, all the miles, and my team helped me so much with everything. Just very, very happy with it."
 
Murphy's title got the Cavaliers on the women's team scoreboard with 10 points, tied for seventh-most through two days of action.
 
Competing in the 10k final as well, Ryan Stade gave his all to place runner-up on the men's side. Needing just over 30 minutes to complete the event, Stade's 30:08.74 showing proved to be second-best out of 18 qualifiers on Thursday night. The effort comfortably met the necessary requirements to take home NAIA All-American status.
 
"I wanted to keep it around sub-15 through the first 5k, and we got there with a little help," Stade shared. "We separated [from the pack] pretty quickly—about a mile in, we were 100 meters out in front."
 
Thanks to Stade's runner-up result, the Cavs placed eight points on the men's team leaderboard, tied for 16^th-most through nine scored events.
 
For a look at results from the first two days of the 2026 NAIA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships, click here.
 
The Montreat College men's and women's track & field teams close out their time at the national meet tomorrow afternoon with five events, starting with Barnes in the women's javelin at 2 p.m.