Halterman Claims 5,000-Meter Title as Trojans Finish Program-Best Sixth

NAIA Outdoor Championship Central

MARION, Ind. – Competition at the 2025 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships concluded on Friday as Jaynie Halterman claimed the 5,000-meter National Title,  and the Taylor women finished sixth with 29 points.

The sixth-place finish is the highest in program history as the long-distance running teams have soared this season with top-six finishes in both track and field seasons and a runner-up finish in cross country.

Halterman took the track a final time in her freshman campaign and slowly built a lead of over 20 seconds by the 3000-meter mark. She finished with a time of 16:41.41 for her second NAIA National Title in Outdoor Track and Field. Halterman's incredible debut season in college athletics saw her take home four Individual National Titles along with six program records. Halterman brought home 20 individual points in an impressive showing for the Thompson's Station, Tennessee native.

Noel VanderWall began the day for the Trojans in the 1,500-meter finals and finished with a time of 4:34.06 to cross the finish line in tenth. The junior ran her second-fastest time of the season in a highly competitive field.

Taylor concludes its 2025 season but is set to improve with Halterman returning along with three other NAIA All-Americans ready to push Taylor into the top five.