For the second time in three weeks, Mohamed Guled of Mid-America Christian University took home medalist honors doing so at the Missouri Southern State University Southern Stampede. The junior finished first out of 309 total runners with a course record 23:00.6 8,000-meter race. Guled also broke the Mid-America Christian 8,000-meter school record by more than two minutes in a truly dominant effort where he was over a minute faster than the second-place finisher. The native of Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates currently holds the fastest time in the NAIA and NCCAA for the 2026 season.
Nominees: Joey Carroll, Cedarville University; Mohamed Guled, Mid-America Christian University; Royce Havens, Nelson University; Wyatt Royster, Malone University