Marian Captures NAIA Indoor 4x800M Relay National Championship Title

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - For the first time in program history, the Marian men's track and field team has won the indoor championship in the 4x800m relay, as the Knights captured the 2026 national title on Friday evening. The Knights, who had one of the best teams in the nation entering nationals, not only won their first championship in the event, but broke the NAIA Championship record with their final time. 

Mason Piatt was Marian's lead-off man in the relay effort, starting in the outside lane pack of three teams. Piatt led the outside lanes and challenged for the lead in his portion of the relay, holding second place throughout, as he raced into the exchange zone for a clean pass off. 

Benjamin Riehle was the Knights' next runner, and the sophomore quickly took the lead, passing the runner from Park University in the first 50 meters of his run. Riehle was challenged by Park, but the Pirate could not catch Marian's two-hole runner, as Riehle took the baton into the exchange zone in the lead. 

After Riehle gave the Knights a full second of separation, Charles Leedke got the call, and one of the nation's top runners in the 800m this season continued to keep Marian in front. Park would slowly claw back into the fight, as well as Mount Vernon Nazarene, but entering the final exchange, Leedke was able to hand off the baton with a 1.03-second advantage.

Tristan Trevino, who was Marian's anchor on the 2025 DMR National Champion team, got a strong start after Leedke pulled away entering the exchange, and the Knights' junior anchor charged hard to ebgin his run, adding a second of separation. Trevino would continue to run away from the field, holding a split lead of 4.5 seconds entering the final 200m, pulling the Knights to the finish line to capture the NAIA National Championship. 

Trevino finished Marian's relay time with a 7:27.72 time, breaking both the school record, but also the NAIA Championship Meet record that had been set one day prior by Park in the prelims. 

Marian's relay championship, coupled with the national runner-up in the high jump from Victor Dailey and an All-American finish from Markevious Keys in the weight throw, pushed the Knights into first place after the second day of the NAIA Championship, putting the team in position to repeat its national title.