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Day One Outdoor National Championship 5/21/26

Track and Field 5/21/2026 10:16:00 PM

Findlay Opens NCAA DII Outdoor Championships | Multiple Podium Finishes

Emporia, Kan.- The University of Findlay track and field teams opened competition at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University on Thursday, May 21, marking the first of three days of competition.

Senior Collin Warner got the day started for the Oilers in his second straight appearance at the national championship, matching last season's finish with a 15th-place mark of 60.54m in the hammer throw. Fellow senior Leyton Nossa, who placed fifth in the hammer throw at the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) Championship after finishing 19th nationally a season ago, earned a podium finish with a personal-best toss of 65.72m. His seventh-place finish secured first team all-American honors.

The Oilers' women's pole vault squad, a familiar presence at NCAA championship events, was next in action as freshman Brayden Snider, junior Victoria Harvey, and sophomore Colleen Steinmetz competed on the national stage. In her first appearance at the outdoor championships, Snider cleared 3.80m to finish 12th and earn second team all-American honors. Harvey, returning to the event after qualifying in 2024, placed 11th with a mark of 3.95m to also garner second team all-American recognition. Steinmetz, who finished tenth at last season's national championship, battled through challenging conditions to clear 4.05m, earning a tie for seventh place, a podium finish, and first team All-American honors.

The distance squad then took to the track for the Orange and Black as sophomore Lauren Sattler and sophomore Benjamin Hall competed in their respective preliminary events. Sattler placed 18th in the 1500m with a time of 4:35.91, narrowly missing the finals as only the top 12 advanced. Hall, the G-MAC Champion in the event, also came up short of a finals qualification in the men's 3000m steeplechase, finishing 19th with a time of 9:08.89.

The day concluded with sophomore Zanri Black delivering a personal-best performance in the 400m hurdles, clocking a time of 59.32. With the top two finishers in each heat earning automatic qualification, Black placed second in the third heat, ultimately finishing sixth overall and securing her spot in Saturday's finals.

Findlay will return to competition for day two on Friday, May 22. The Oilers will be represented by Charles Schmiesing in the discus throw, Owen Ackerman in the high jump, Jessica Hoban in the triple jump, and Leah Smith in the 200m, while the 4x400 relay team will close out the day's events.

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Players Mentioned

Owen Ackerman: Sophomore; Jumps

Zanri Black: Sophomore; Hurdles

Benjamin Hall: Sophomore; Distance

Victoria Harvey: Junior; Pole Vault

Jessica Hoban: Jumps; Graduate Student; Jumps

Leyton Nossa: Throws; Senior; Throws

Lauren Sattler: Sophomore; Distance

Charles Schmiesing: Sophomore; Throws

Leah Smith: Junior; Sprints

Colleen Steinmetz: Sophomore; Pole Vault

Collin Warner: Graduate Student; Throws

Brayden Snider: Freshman

Players Mentioned

Owen Ackerman
: Sophomore; Jumps

Zanri Black
: Sophomore; Hurdles

Benjamin Hall
: Sophomore; Distance

Victoria Harvey
: Junior; Pole Vault

Jessica Hoban
: Graduate Student; Jumps
: Jumps

Leyton Nossa
: Senior; Throws
: Throws

Lauren Sattler
: Sophomore; Distance

Charles Schmiesing
: Sophomore; Throws

Leah Smith
: Junior; Sprints

Colleen Steinmetz
: Sophomore; Pole Vault

Collin Warner
: Graduate Student; Throws

Brayden Snider
: Freshman