Asheville, N.C. – The Friends University Falcons put a bow on the 2026 outdoor season with multiple emphatic performances yesterday (May 22), highlighted by junior Tiyna Ridge running two All-American races at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Asheville, N.C. Junior Carter Giittinger and sophomore Fien Molenberg also achieved All-American status on the final day of the season.
Ridge produced a pair of national runner-up finishes, starting in the 100m run, where she came in second at a time of 11.46. The Edmond, Okla. native wasn't through and again came in second nationally in the 200m race, running a time of 23.86.
Already a Decathlon All-American, Giittinger (4.65m) added another to his trophy case by finishing tied for sixth in the Men's Pole Vault event.
Molenberg (2:12.76) then capped off Friday's All-American trio with a seventh-place finish in the Women's 800 meter run.
In other action on the final day for the Falcons, Matthew Bryant (14.56m) came in 14th in the Men's Triple Jump.
In the overall team scores, the Falcon Women finished tied for 16th nationally (19 points) and the Falcon Men finished 36th (7.2 points). It's the highest national outdoor finish for the Women's Falcons since 2018 and the best since 2023 on the men's side.
Complete NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship Results
