EUGENE, Ore. (June 12, 2026) – Colin Sahlman delivered a national championship performance Friday evening to lead Northern Arizona on the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field. The Lumberjacks also received an All-America finish from Josiah Johnson and a top-15 result from Cael Grotenhuis as NAU tied for 23rd in the final team standings with 11 points.
Sahlman capped his collegiate career in spectacular fashion, winning the NCAA men's 800-meter title in a personal-best 1:44.22. Running near the front throughout the race, the senior surged down the homestretch and held off Arkansas' Tyrice Taylor by eight hundredths of a second to claim the national championship. His winning time improved upon his previous personal best and secured 10 points for the Lumberjacks.
The title marks one of the most significant individual accomplishments in program history and gives Northern Arizona a national champion on the track at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
Later in the evening, Johnson competed in the men's 400-meter hurdles final. The senior crossed the line in 50.56 to finish eighth overall and earn Second Team All-America honors. Johnson qualified for the championship race after advancing through Wednesday's semifinal round and closed his season as an NCAA scorer while adding a point to the Lumberjacks' team total.
Earlier in the day, Grotenhuis represented NAU in the men's 5,000-meter final. The senior finished 13th in a deep national field, crossing the line in 13:57.00. Grotenhuis earned his place in the championship race after advancing through the West First Round and concluded his collegiate season competing among the nation's top distance runners.
Northern Arizona finished tied for 23rd nationally with 11 points, all scored on Friday through Sahlman's national championship and Johnson's All-America performance.
The NCAA Championships conclude a season that saw the Lumberjacks claim conference titles, school records and multiple national-level performances, highlighted by Sahlman's NCAA crown in the men's 800 meters.
Northern Arizona's NCAA Championships are not yet complete, however, as Hayley Burns will compete in the women's 1,500-meter final on Saturday at 5:12 p.m. PT. Burns advanced to the championship race by winning her semifinal Thursday in 4:09.48 and will look to cap her record-setting season with an All-America performance at Hayward Field.
Live results for the NCAA Championships are available here.
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