To say that the final day of the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships was historic for Master's would be a massive understatement.
- Most combined NAIA All-Americans (8) by TMU at a single national championship and in a single day (7) at nationals.
- 5 men's All-Americans shatters the previous record of two, with four coming on Friday.
- 3 women's All-Americans ties program record for most at a single nationals.
- Ellen Palmgren became the first 800-meter All-American in program history.
- Caleb Pouliot became the first-ever TMU pole vaulter to earn All-American honors.
- Hannah Fredericks is the first Mustang to earn multiple All-American awards in one day and the second Master's woman to earn two in a single national championship.
- Davis Boggess and Daniel Rush became the first set of TMU teammates to earn All-American honors in the same race (men's 5,000 meters).
- Best-ever finish (eighth place) and most points won by the TMU men (26) at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
The record-breaking meet in Gulf Shores, Alabama brought a fitting end to arguably the finest season in TMU Track & Field history.
Boggess' Runner-Up finish in the 5K (14:47.15) in a time of capped off the Mustangs' historic day, and afterward he was in a reflective mood.
"I was reading Psalm 145 this morning and took great encouragement from this passage," Boggess said. "I focused on what it looked like to fear the Lord in racing. I looked back at all the many blessings God has poured out on us this season."
God had yet another blessing in store for him on Friday.
"For the 5K, I knew we put in the work and all we needed to do was trust in the Lord," Boggess said. "I missed All-American by six seconds in cross country and praised the Lord in defeat and will now praise the Lord in victory. To God be the glory. My prayer is that people will see less of me and more of Him."
Boggess' teammate and training partner, Rush, finished two spots behind him in fourth place (14:52.25).
"This entire trip has been so encouraging to me, seeing the whole team focused on giving all glory to the Lord in victory or defeat," Rush said. "God granted me a good 5K, and I will never forget running that race with two of my greatest friends and brothers in Christ. Watching my roommate get runner-up in front of me was awesome."
Pouliot earned TMU's other runner-up finish on the day, placing second in the men's pole vault with a mark of 4.95 meters. He passed on all heights until 4.90 meters, clearing both that height and 4.95 meters on his first attempt, before failing to reach 5.00 meters on any of his three tries.
Fredericks was the standout for the women's team, finishing third in the women's 1500 meters (4:28.35) before just two-and-a-half hours later placing eighth in the women's 5,000 meters (17:56.48).
She thanked two of her teammates, Palmgren and
Arianna Ghiorso, for how they've impacted her during her freshman season.
"The Lord was so kind to allow me to race the 1500 with Ellen and the 5K with Ari," Fredericks said. "Both Ari and Ellen are people that I look up to so much and make the team better. Ari's role as a captain has influenced the women's team so much, as she has shown what it looks like to compete as an act of worship.
"Throughout the season, but specifically this week, Proverbs 21:31, which talks about how the horse is prepared for the battle but the victory belongs to the Lord, has been on my heart."
In the midst of her history-making day, while also becoming the second-ever All-American in both the women's 1500 and women's 5K, her thoughts were on the Lord.
"Nationals is a humbling experience in that it reminds you of the greatest thing in life, which is our Savior and His victory over sin and death on the cross," Fredericks said. "We have the privilege of running with so much joy for an Audience of One because of that victory, and it is such a sweet blessing to do it as a team."
Palmgren finished 12th in the women's 1500 meters (4:54.94) before miraculously turning around in less than two hours to place third in the women's 800 meters (2:12.97) despite not feeling well.
"The Lord gave me far more than I could have even asked for in allowing me to finish third in the 800," Palmgren said. "I was completely ready to accept any outcome, good or bad, from the race and praise His name for how He strengthened me to race well.
"I wasn't feeling good going in, but I decided to trust the Lord and put myself in the race to win and trust whatever strength He gave me for whatever outcome He had ordained, that that was for my good and ultimately for His glory."
Palmgren, like Fredericks, became an All-American in outdoor track & field after doing so in cross country this past fall.
"The ultimate victory has been won and everything He has done for us these past days are just wonderful, added blessings we can give back to Him for His name to be proclaimed," Palmgren said.
Anthony Ghiorso was the other Mustang to claim All-American status on Friday, finishing seventh in a mad dash to the finish line of the men's 1500 meters (3:54.02). The graduate transfer from Dordt University previously won the 4x800 meter national title twice while with the Defenders.
"This whole season and especially this trip have been testimony to the sovereignty of God,"
Anthony Ghiorso said. "My 1500 was a testament to that, as I went from ninth place to seventh place in the last two steps. God wanted me to be an All-American, not because I did anything to 'earn' it but rather because that is what He had perfectly ordained.
"It's such a testament to His faithfulness and realizing that nothing I accomplish is from my own strength or talent but rather because of His goodness."
Less than 24 hours after becoming an All-American in the men's 10,000 meters,
Wesley Methum placed 11th in the men's 5,000 meters on Friday in a time of 15:08.11. With that recognition on Thursday, he tied the program record with two All-American awards in a career.
Arianna Ghiorso finished 12th in the women's 5K, crossing the finish line in 18:12.71.
In the overall team standings, the Master's men placed eighth as a team with 26 points, while the women finished in 21st with 13.
