Wilson earns two podiums, All-Conference awards announced at WHAC Indoor Championships
February 22, 2026

Wilson earns two podiums, All-Conference awards announced at WHAC Indoor Championships

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Defiance College track and field earned two podium finishes and multiple personal bests during Saturday's WHAC Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Aquinas on Friday and Saturday.

On the men's side, sprinter Xavier Wilson turned in third place finishes in each the 60 meters and 200 meters, giving the men's team its best individual finish at the conference meet since joining the WHAC. Running the same events, Marcus Snell hit personal best times in each race he ran. Additionally, Miles Inman ran the 60-meter hurdles in 9.05 seconds and set a new personal best in the event. The men's 4x400 relay team ran a strong 3:27.92 but came in sixth.

On the women's side, the 4x400 relay team was DC's best finish with a 7th-place 4:20.67 race. Mira Horvath's 10th-place 1:01.43 400-meter run was the best invidual run of the day. In field events, Chloe DeBoer in the weight throw and Kanaya Keister in the shot put posted personal best marks.

Indiana Tech swept the team event with titles in the men's and women's standings. The Warriors won its 14th straight men's indoor track title while the women's reclaimed their title after losing to Madonna last year. Defiance finished 7th in the men's standings and 8th in the women's standings.

The WHAC also announced its All-Conference Awards. The first, second, and third place finishers in each event were award First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention, respectively. Wilson's performances in the 60 and 200-meter dashes solidified two Honorable Mentions for the freshman. J'Vontae Barnes and Shelby Clements were DC's members of the WHAC's Champions of Character Team, and were also among the program's Academic All-Conference honorees. The women's team All-Academic performers along with Clements included Mira Horvath, Lynsey Pease, Amanda Barnes. Barnes was named Academic All-Conference on the men's team alongside Jake Stephens.

WOMEN'S TRACK RESULTS

  • 60 meters: Rakel Thompson, 8.17 (11th, prelims)
  • 200 meters: Rakel Thompson, 26.71 (17th)
  • 400 meters: Mira Horvanth, 1:01.43 (10th), Israa Khamis, 1:04.21 (17th)
  • 5000 meters: Adeline Niyonkunda, 20:36.10 (12th)
  • 60 meter hurdles: Israa Khamis, 10.00 (15th, prelims)
  • 4x400 Relay: Khamis/Clements/Debola/Horvath, 4:20.67 (7th)

WOMEN'S FIELD RESULTS

  • Long Jump: Amira Knight, 4.59m (15th)
  • Weight Throw: Chloe DeBoer, 10.56m* (19th), Lynsey Pease, 6.54m (23rd), Kanaya Keister, Foul/No Mark
  • Shot Put: Kanaya Keister, 10.70m* (16th)

MEN'S TRACK RESULTS

MEN'S FIELD RESULTS

*Denotes PR
# Denotes School Record

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets could have a few athletes compete at the NAIA National Championships in Gainesville, Fla. on March 5-7, extending the indoor season before starting the outdoor schedule in March.

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