Pilots Win Fourth Straight NCCAA Championship
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The Bethel University men’s track and field team completed the season sweep of the NCCAA track and field championships with an impressive final day of action, crowning five national championship performances and 11 more All-American performances to win the 2019 NCCAA Men’s Outdoor National Championship—their 7th national title in program history and fourth in a row.
Jordan Downs was named the Outstanding Performer of the Meet while the coaching staff earned the honor of the Coaching Staff of the Year. In addition, the Pilots hit five NAIA standards and set two program records. Ezra Griffith broke the seven-year-old record in the 110m hurdles, while Downs rewrote his own program record in the long jump—which was also good enough to set the NCCAA Outdoor National Championship meet record.
MEET VITALS
- NCCAA Outdoor National Championship: Hosted by Grace College (Ind.)
- Location:Key Track & Field Complex | Grace College | Winona Lake, Ind.
- NAIA National Track & Field Ratings Index:Men – No. 16
- Standings: Men – 1st of 25
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
- 4x100m Relay | Ezra Griffith, Jordan Downs, Jamique Mitchell, Corey Jones | 41.68
- Matt McCown | High Jump | 2.05m
- Jordan Downs | Pole Vault | 4.75m
- Jordan Downs | Long Jump | 7.75m
- Bailey Lang | Hammer Throw | 54.43m
AWARDS
- Jordan Downs | Outstanding Performer of the Meet
- Men’s Coaching Staff of the Year
MEN’S ALL-AMERICANS
- 100m | Jamique Mitchell, 3rd
- 200m | Jordan Downs, 2nd
- 400m | Travis Sperry, 2nd
- 110m Hurdles | Ezra Griffith, 3rd
- 4x100m Relay | Ezra Griffith, Jordan Downs, Jamique Mitchell, Corey Jones | 1st
- High Jump | Matt McCown, 1st
- Pole Vault | Jordan Downs, 1st | Ryan Trick, 3rd | Ezra Griffith, 3rd
- Long Jump | Jordan Downs, 1st
- Discus Throw | Richard Parker, 3rd
- Hammer Throw | Bailey Lang, 1st
NAIA STANDARDS
- Jordan Downs | 200m | 21.59s (B)
- Ezra Griffith | 110m Hurdles | 14.77s (B) *
- 4x100m Relay | 41.68s (B)
- Matt McCown | High Jump | 2.05m (A)
- Jordan Downs | Pole Vault | 4.75m (A)
- Jordan Downs | Long Jump | 7.75m (A) * **
- Bailey Lang | Hammer Throw | 54.32m (A)
* Bethel Outdoor Track & Field program record
** NCCAA Outdoor National Championship record
THOUGHTS FROM COACH NATALI
- “For our men to have won indoor and outdoor conference and come back winning both indoor and outdoor NCCAA championships is an amazing accomplishment. I’m so proud of this special group of kids. As cool as the championships are, their heart and character are what make this team very special. I’m extremely blessed to be able to hang out with them on a consistent basis.”
UP NEXT
- The Pilots will send a contingent to the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship in Gulf Shores, Alabama on May 23-25.