MARION, Ind. – Southeastern University capped off its time at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships with scoring performances in seven events on Friday. Senior Davien Worrels led the way for the Fire men, contributing to every point scored, while the women's 4x400-meter relay raced to a third-place finish.
Worrels put together a remarkable effort, competing in four finals and contributing to all 10 of SEU's men's team points. He helped the 4x100-meter relay squad to a fifth-place finish and anchored the 4x400-meter team to sixth. Individually, Worrels placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles and eighth in the 200 meters.
The day began with Worrels anchoring the 4x100-meter relay, following legs from James Williamson III, Malik Blunt, and Cameron Alamia to a 40.01-second finish for fifth place.
Later, Worrels again took the anchor leg for the 4x400-meter relay, teaming up with Blunt, Williamson, and Mario Thomas to post a time of 3:14.87 and finish sixth.
In individual action, Worrels clocked 47.61 in the 400-meter hurdles for seventh place. He closed his historic career with an eighth-place finish in the 200 meters at 22.92 seconds.
On the women's side, the 4x400-meter relay delivered SEU's top team finish of the meet. Areeyanna Bonds, Jaa'Ln McBride, Maci Mills, and Irmiris Mendez combined to run 3:49.92 and place third.
Mills added to SEU's women's total with a seventh-place finish in the 800 meters, clocking 2:11.90. Mendez also scored in the 100 meters, taking seventh in 11.85 seconds. Earlier, she narrowly missed another podium spot, finishing ninth in the 100-meter hurdles at 15.05 seconds.
In the final team standings, the Fire women placed in a tie for 17th with 14 points. The University of British Columbia captured the national title with 105 points, finishing ahead of Life University (77) and William Carey (53).
The SEU men, fueled entirely by Worrels' contributions, finished tied for 26th with 10 points. British Columbia also won the men's team title with 74 points, followed by Madonna University (53) and William Carey (44).
