Men's Outdoor Track and Field Experience Weather Delays at NAIA Nationals Before Competition

ASHEVILLE, Tenn.- The men's outdoor track and field team had four events compete at the 2026 NAIA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday. Along with the competition, a big storyline that was created that day was a rainstorm that came through, causing a multi-hour delay.

For example, Dani Meisen was scheduled to run the 800m Race Prelims at 2:50 p.m. Due to the weather, Meisen did not run until 6:00 p.m. When he finally got on the track, Meisen ran a time of 1:52.65 to finish in 21st place. 

KT Buchanan, who was scheduled to run the 100m Dash Prelims at 3:40 p.m., did not run until 6:45 p.m. Buchanan finished in 17th with a time of 10.79 seconds. 

In the 5000m Race Walk, which Dakota Caldwell was supposed to run at 5:15 p.m., did not occur until 8:10 p.m. Caldwell finished the event in a time of 24:02.58 to finish in 12th.

The final event for the Bulldogs were the prelims of the 4x400m Relay, which was scheduled for 8:45 p.m. Buchanan, Savir Faneyte, Meisen, and Roni Bailey did not get on the track until 11:00 p.m. that night. The team ran a time of 3:37.09 to finish in 26th place.