EMPORIA, Kans. - The Northwest Nazarene Nighthawks Track & Field team concluded their season at the NCAA DII National Championships this afternoon in Emporia, Kansas. Three Nighthawks competed in the final day as Laurenz Waldbauer claimed the top spot in the javelin and Maddie Gebers and Grady Mylander competing in the women's javelin and men's 5,000m.

Waldbauer completed his highly decorated NNU career with a National Championship. After finishing as the national runner-up in 2025, he came away with the title this year. Waldbauer threw a 73.53, beating Fresno Pacific's (Calif.) Tevz Podlipnik. 

Second to none. pic.twitter.com/HRUnifhO5L

— NNU Nighthawks (@NNUSports) May 24, 2026

Waldbauer fouled his throw but came back with a throw of 63.67m (208-10) which had him sitting in ninth. He made his third throw count, as he threw a 73.53m (241-3) and moved himself into first place and never gave it up. His next two throws hit the 68.86m (225-11) and 67.50m (221-5) marks before he almost matched his furthest throw with a 73.34m (240-7). Waldbauer finally adds the missing piece to his impressive resume as a Nighthawk.

Additionally, Maddie Gebers competing in the women's javelin. Gebers' best throw of the day was a 45.32m (148-8) on her third attempt. Her first two throws were 42.87m (140-7) and 42.88m (140-8). Gebers' finished in 12th place out of 22 throwers. She finished just behind Western Washington's Jessica Polkinghorn who threw a 45.37m (148-10) and ahead of Missouri Southern's Maggie Kauk with a 45.10m (147-11). Missouri Souther's Adrianne Casey won the title with a personal best of 52.71m (172-11).

Grady Mylander was the final Nighthawk to compete as he finished in 19th place in the men's 5,000m. Mylander ran a 14:39.35 finishing behind Saginaw Valley's (Mich.) Jacob Walker with a 14:33.61 and ahead of Tiffin's (Ohio) Ramon Rodriguez with a 14:42.60. The 5,000m champion was Wingate's Luca Poppe with a 14:06.27.

Brody Kemble and Morgan Erler competed in the 10,000m on Thursday. Erler ran a 36:41.85, finishing in 19th place while Brody Kemble ran a 30:18.78, finishing in 14th place. The Men's program scored 10 points off of Waldbauers placement and finished tied 21st as a team.