KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has officially announced final rosters and entry lists for the 2026 Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field National Championships, with the College of Idaho set to send 13 student-athletes to compete May 20-22 in Asheville, N.C.
The championships, held at Karl Straus Track, mark the culmination of one of the longest and most demanding seasons in the NAIA, spanning cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field for some athletes. The Yotes will be represented by a blend of veteran leadership and emerging talent, including five freshmen competing in their first outdoor national meet.
A core group of Yotes has competed in all three national championship this year (cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track), highlighting both durability and consistency at the highest level. Junior Kylee Quinton, and freshmen Paiten Braseth and Josie Patton will each be making their third national appearances of the year.
Quinton enters the meet as the defending national runner-up in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and remains one of the top contenders in the field. She will be joined in the event by Braseth and Patton.
The middle-distance group features Kiely Munson and Julia Gilbert in both the 1,500 meters and 4x800-meter relay. Munson has been a key contributor on the 4x800-meter relay in past championships, and qualifies individually for the first time this outdoor season. Gilbert will be making her first outdoor national appearance, while sophomore Mattie Shirts adds depth to the relay pool as a heptathlete. Freshman Macy Eggart will compete in her first national meet as part of the 4x800-meter relay group.
In the long distance events, junior transfer Rozzlyn Cazier will represent the Yotes in the 10,000 meters, marking her second national appearance this season.
The Yotes will also be well represented in the field events. Senior Taylor Durfey qualifies for her first national meet in the hammer throw, while freshman Helene Rae enters the shot put after earning All-America honors during the indoor season with a fifth-place finish.
On the men's side, junior Keenan Blair returns to the national stage in the shot put after earning All-America honors during the indoor season. Senior Ashton Drage will make his first track and field national appearance in the steeplechase, and freshman Evan Anderson rounds out the group after qualifying in the javelin.
The NAIA Outdoor Championships begin May 20 and run through May 22 in Asheville.
