MARION, Ind. - The College of Idaho Yotes kicked off the 2025 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships with a series of strong performances on Wednesday at Indiana Wesleyan University, battling through harsh winds and sideways rain.
Senior
Star Herron opened the day in the women's hammer throw. After an early no-mark, she regrouped and improved on her next two throws to post a mark of 51.79 meters on her final attempt, finishing 11th and closing out her collegiate career on a high note.
In the women's 200 meters,
Charlotte Bowman surged past her original seeding to place 14th overall with a time of 24.75 seconds. She returns to the track Thursday for the 100-meter prelims.
Both Yotes steeplechasers advanced to Friday's 3,000-meter finals.
Kylee Quinton secured an automatic spot with a second-place finish in her heat, while
Braden Heath dominated his to take the win. Quinton will also compete in the 800-meter prelims Thursday before refocusing on the steeple. Heath gets a full day of rest before Friday's final.
The evening concluded with a standout team performance in the men's 10,000 meters, where three of four C of I athletes earned All-American honors.
Hayden Bostrom led the charge with a fourth-place finish.
Daniel Butler followed in fifth, earning his sixth career All-American title. Butler will have a chance to add a seventh after Thursday's 5,000-meter prelims.
Elias Everist claimed his first career All-American honor on the track by outpacing numerous higher-seeded competitors to place eighth. Everist will also have the chance to chase another honors in the 5,000-meter.
Cyress Wilson capped off the effort in 12th, also finishing well above his seed.
Despite the adverse weather conditions, the Yotes proved resilient on day one and will look to carry that momentum into the remainder of the championships. The men's team will head into the second day of competition in second place overall.
