Marian Ends Third at NAIA Championships Behind Netral's Shot Put Championship

Brookings, S.D. - For the first time in program history, the Marian men's track and field team has finished in the top-five at the NAIA Indoor National Championships, as the Knights placed third overall in the final team standings on Saturday, earning All-American honors in six events. Jacob Netral's NAIA National Championship in the shot put highlighted Marian's big day, helping Marian sweep the throws championships.

Marian earned individual All-American honors in the 600m and 1000m, as Matthew Riehle and Tristan Trevino ran in their respective finals. Riehle finished fifth overall in the 600m finals to earn NAIA All-American honors, placing with a time of 1:19.57 to set a new Marian school record. Trevino finished fourth in the 1000m to earn NAIA All-American honors, as his time of 2:25.44 to break his own school record. Olivier Lifrange just missed out on an All-American honor in the 400m, as he clocked a time of 47.79 second. Lifrange's time broke his school record set one day prior.

In the pole vault, Brenden Endres scored an All-American honor, as he tied for eighth place clearing a height of 4.75m. Keagan La Belle would come short of clearing the bar, finishing the event with no-height.

The highlight of the day was Jacob Netral's national championship in the shot put, as the senior thrower had to land a pressure throw on his third attempt after fouling twice to open the competition. Netral's third toss moved him to first entering the finals, as he hit a mark of 17.51m. Netral's throw would stand as the top overall throw through the finals, as the senior earned an NAIA National Championship by a distance of 0.32m. 

Netral's championship is the second this season following teammate Isaiah Tipping from Friday, and now gives Marian six overall individual national titles in indoor track and field. Between Netral, Tipping, and Arriana Benjamin of the women's team, the Knights' throwing program went a perfect 4-4 in national championship titles.

Behind Netral in the shot put, Christian Rios finished 15th with a distance of 16.05m and Kevaughn Dawn finished 31st overall in the event with a 14.72m.

As Netral was finishing his championship, Marian's distance medley relay team of Robin Aguilar-Gonzalez, Eric Materna, Owen Pittman, and Blake Hipkiss scored a seventh place finish. The team clocked a time of 10:10.84, finishing just behind Goshen for seventh place overall. Tristian Trevino would also earn an All-American honor as he helped qualify the group in the prelims. The combination of Netral's points and the two from the DMR group gave Marian a spot in second place overall entering the final event.

With a runner-up placement hanging on the balance of the 4x400m relay, the Knights team entered a battle with Dordt and William Carey who trailed in team score. Marian's relay team of Eli Givens, Raif Miller, Olivier Lifrange, and Richard Dube gave it their all by clocking a school record time of 3:13.41, but would place fifth behind a speedy top-four of Dordt, William Carey, St. Thomas, and Southeastern. Dordt would win the event, leaping past Marian in the team scoring by a half point, putting Marian in third place in the overall team scoring with 40.5.

The University of the Cumberlands claimed the national championship, while Dordt and Marian comprised the top-three. Marian's third place finish is their best-ever in indoor or outdoor track, and is Marian's best-ever finish in track and field for men's or women's track. 

Marian will now set their sights on outdoor track and field, as their season will begin on March 16.

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