Men’s DMR Punches Ticket to Finals with New Taylor Record

Taylor Men's Indoor TF NAIA Championships Central 

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Taylor men's indoor track and field team made the most of its lone event of the day on Thursday, opening its showing at the 2026 NAIA Indoor National Championships with a new program record in the distance-medley relay, while advancing into Saturday's finals.

The lineup of Joel Mumaw, Wade Jones, Bryce Noble and Nathan Burns posted a blistering time of 9:55.08 to finish second in the first heat and second overall in the prelims. The Trojans trailed only Montreat's first-place time of 9:54.64 by less than half a second.

The time easily clipped the TU record of 10:04.77 set earlier this year and was less than a second off the NAIA's best time this season, while also being just over four seconds off the pace of Azusa Pacific's NAIA Championship-winning time in 2025.

The DMR will return to the track for the finals on Saturday at 5:00 pm.

TU's Friday schedule will also include just one event, with Mumaw and Jared Stayte competing in the mile beginning at 12:05 pm.