Results
Marian, IN – Cumberlands became the first team since 2016 to win both the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships in the same season with a massive come-from behind effort on Friday. The Patriots scored in four events on the final day, including a national champion performance in the 1500m. Head Coach Bradley Sowder was named NAIA Men's Coach of the Year. He won the award during the indoor season as well.
 
Luca Santorum scored 18 points himself for UC after winning the 1500m and finishing runner-up in the 800m run. He pulled away in the final 150 meters of the 1500 for a 3:47.79 finish and his third individual national title of the year. He followed that performance with a strong effort in the 800m run which saw him neck and neck with the leader down the home stretch for a 1:49.78 finish.
 
Youssef Asslouj earned a pair of runner-up finishes on the day for 16 team points. He raced alongside Santorum in the 1500m, finishing just behind his teammate in 3:48.07. He also finished the meet with a powerful performance in the 5K, where he clocked a 14:33.21 for second.
 
One of the biggest moments of the entire meet came from senior Tristan Petrey in the pole vault. He entered the final meet of his career as the tenth seed and came away with a massive personal best mark of 5.05m for fourth place and the third All-American honors of his career. This broke his own school record by 15 centimeters and scored five points for the team.
 
Cumberlands sat atop team standings with 64 points, leading Marian (IN) by eight points with the 4x400 relay as the lone event left to race. Marian's 4x400 posted a third-place finish in this race, scoring just six points, giving the Patriots their first Outdoor National Championship red banner in program history. Marian would place second overall with 62 points while British Columbia totaled 48 points for third place, respectively.
 
Coach Sowder talked about the final day of competition and his coach of the year award saying "It was a whirlwind of emotions the entire day. Our guys battled and came out on top in the end … This award is a collection of more than just me. I am surrounded by a great faculty and staff that allow our team to be successful."
 
The Pats finished the meet with nine All-Americans, including Luca Madeo in the 10K, Nigel Steenwinkel in the decathlon, Dillan Melchiore who won the title in the 5K racewalk, and Carson Johnson in the 5K RW as well.
 
UC finish the most historic season in their program's history with a national championship at the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Championships. This marks the third NAIA National Title in the history of Cumberlands, and the first outdoor title for the track program. Their sweep of indoor and outdoor nationals has not been done in eight years. The Pats also finished third in cross country, showing their dominance over the entire school year.
 
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