Wildcats Qualify Four Men for 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) announced its final official entry lists for all qualifiers for the 2024 Men's Outdoor Track and Field National Championships Friday morning.
The Wildcats earned four berths into the event with Drew Mallett qualifying in the decathlon, Jabez Rivers qualifying in the 110-meter hurdles, Kenny Tucker qualifying in the 5000-meter race walk, and Logan Lucas earning a spot in the 3000-meter steeplechase field.
National Qualifier
Drew Mallett | Sophomore | LaGrange, Mo. | Highland HS
Mallett is a first-time qualifier to the NAIA Outdoor Championships and will compete in the decathlon. Mallett earned his way to the national championship by scoring 6,101 points and winning the decathlon at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships. The 6,101 total points is second-most in school history behind the Jordan Bucklew who recorded 6,385 points and finished sixth overall at the 2008 NAIA Outdoor Championships. Mallett is ranked 13th in the 16-man field.
In addition to this season, Mallett also qualified for the 2023 NAIA Indoor Championships as a member of the Culver-Stockton 4x100 relay team.
National Qualifier
Jabez Rivers | Junior | Phenix City, Ala. | Central HS | Iowa Wesleyan
Rivers is making his first career appearance at an NAIA national event and will compete in the 110 hurdles. Rivers qualified for the championships at the Mount Mercy Mustang Distance Carnival and Open by registering a time of 14.78 seconds, a school record. Rivers earned all-conference honorable mention accolades after finishing fifth at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships with a time of 14.81 seconds. He is the first C-SC hurdler, 110 or 400, to qualify for the national championships.
National Qualifier
Kenny Tucker | Senior | Carrizo Springs, Texas | Carrizo Springs HS | Iowa Wesleyan
Tucker is making his fourth appearance at a NAIA championship events, having qualified twice for the indoor championships and twice for the outdoor championships. Tucker, who is the first C-SC male athlete to qualify in the 5000-meter race walk, earned his spot with a school record time of 26:50.62 at the Cornell (Iowa) Invitational on April 6.
Tucker finished sixth at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships with a time of 27:34.41 to earn honorable mention all-conference honors.
National Qualifier
Logan Lucas | Junior | Monroe City, Mo. | Monroe City HS | Iowa Wesleyan
Lucas is making his second appearance at the outdoor championships and his fourth appearance overall in a NAIA national championship event.
Lucas narrowly qualified for the 3000 steeplechase, earning his spot on the final weekend of qualifying at the Fighting Chance Invitational hosted by Saint Francis (Ill.) on May 11. Lucas recorded a time of 9:29.33, which was just .67 seconds below the qualifying standard. However, that mark is a school record in this event. Lucas is the first Wildcat steeplechase qualifier in school history.
Lucas has previously qualified for the indoor and outdoor championships in the race walk, and also qualified for the Cross Country Championships in 2023.
Men's Indoor Track and Field
Qualifiers by event CLICK HERE. Qualifiers by school CLICK HERE.
The NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University will occur at Wildcat Stadium in Marion, Ind., May 22-24.
Event Schedule CLICK HERE.