BROOKINGS, S.D. – Oklahoma City University capped off a record-setting performance at the NAIA Men's Indoor Track and Field National Championships on Saturday by capturing three individual national titles, 12 all-American finishes and the first track & field team national championship in school history at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex.
OCU finished with 62 points in the final team standings. That was three points better than Indiana Tech, which brought 20 athletes to the competition and took six of the previous eight national titles. Indiana Wesleyan placed third with 34 points, followed by Saint Mary (Kan.) with a fourth-place finish after tallying 31 points.
Oklahoma City collected its 71st national championship in all sports. OCU added to its championship tradition by winning at least one national title for the 29th year in a row since 1993-94.
The 12 all-American finishes tops Oklahoma City's previous high of eight in that category, accomplished in 2019 and last year. The Stars came off their best finish in the NAIA indoor championships in 2021 of third place.
Junior phenom Zouhair Talbi turned in a historical day by winning national titles in the mile (4 minutes, 7.27 seconds), 3K (8:17.67) and 5K (14:28.39). That brings his NAIA Indoor Championships title count to five in two attempts. Talbi hauled in most valuable performer of the meet for the second consecutive year. Talbi increased his cross country and track & field all-American honors to seven and individual national crowns to seven (including leading the Stars to the 2021 distance medley relay title).
Sophomore Shimales Abebe earned all-American honors in three events with second-place finishes in the mile (4:08.39) and 3K (8:19.05) and a third-place finish in the 5K (14:36.01).
Freshman JaQuavious Harris turned in an impressive performance on the big stage by earning all-American honors with a fourth-place finish in the 1K (2:27.96) and an eighth-place finish in the mile (4:12.48).
A youth-oriented OCU distance medley relay secured the title for the Stars. OCU's relay team of senior Milan Todorovic and freshmen Fares Marrouf, Tate Smithhart and Harris placed fifth with a time of 10:02.55. The Stars led the team standings 62-51 over Indiana Tech prior to the final event.
Talbi, one of the premier collegiate runners at any level, is thrilled with his and his team's accomplishment.
"I was very excited coming into the championship since I knew it would be the last with my school," Talbi said. "I put everything I had into and was lucky to win three titles. We also won the overall men's national championship, and I am excited for that and my future career."
First-year OCU head coach Frezer Legesse credits team unity and a strong work ethic for Saturday's historical accomplishment.
"A group of ordinary athletes came together to do extraordinary things this weekend," said Legesse, who nabbed the NAIA coach of the year.
"It took every single one of the six athletes we had qualified to secure this team national championship. Three of them were freshmen. This was their first time in this atmosphere. I am extremely proud."
