Brown competes in high jump at NAIA Outdoor National Championship

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Defiance College freshman high jumper Jesse Brown (Cincinnati, Ohio/Purcell Marian) represented the Yellow Jackets at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor National Championships on Wednesday, held at Karl Straus Track.

Brown entered the competition coming off a third-place finish in the high jump at the WHAC meet three weeks ago, capping of a dominant outdoor season that included 4 event wins. He was also one of 4 athletes from WHAC schools to compete in the field of 26.

Brown cleared 1.98 meters on his third attempt to continue on to the next height. Next at 2.03 meters, he was unable to clear bar's next height to conclude his bid in the national event. Brown was the first member of DC's men's track program to compete in the high jump at nationals since 2009.

The WHAC saw Cornerstone's Bradley Richards finish third overall (2.06 meters) while Rochester Christian's Julian Holt and McKale Hood from Indiana Tech each advanced past 2.03 meters. The national champion, Keondre Glover from Life (Ga.), soared to a 2.15 meter jump without any faults in the competition until the winning height. 

-JACKETS-