GRANTHAM, Pa. – The Messiah Men's Track and Field team concluded Day Three of the 2026 Messiah Multi and Invitational on Saturday, April 11, claiming the team title with 105 points. The Falcons topped 24 other teams throughout the weekend's competition. Leading the Falcons victory were a number of individual wins throughout the weekend. Messiah went 1-2 in the 1500 Meter Run with
Kaleb Kabakjian claiming the win in 4:01.97.
Samuel Hennett was close behind, crossing in a time of 4:05.48. The Falcons also finished 1-2 in 3000 Meter Steeplechase, with
Josiah Carnwath finishing in 9:43.72, ahead of
Nathaniel Coggins who crossed in a time of 9:58.71. The 4x800 Meter Relay team of
Evan Sarkett,
Nathan Steen, Kabakjian, and
Sean Baxter combined for a time of 8:04.50 to claim the top spot. In the field,
Zion Buck earned the top spot in the Long Jump with a distance of 6.89 meters while
Nathan Bowman finished atop the Shot Put field with a mark of 15.59 meters, just ahead of teammate
Ted Lechthaler who finished second with a mark of 14.77 meters.
The Falcons return to action on Saturday, April 18, when they compete at the Millersville Invite.
On the Track
Jackson Kay was the top Falcons finisher in the 5000 Meter Run, finishing fifth in a time of 15:51.93.
Samuel Meyer clocked a personal best time of 16:45.44 while
Gavin Coggins crossed the line in a personal best time of 18:21.54.
In the 4x100 Meter Relay, the team of
Valen Shrum-Groff,
Jack Safer,
Zion Buck, and
Cooper Schwartz combined for a time of 44.18 to finish eighth.
A large contingent of Falcons toed the line for the 3000 Meter Steeplechase, with three Falcons finishing 1-2-5 and finishing as the top three collegiate competitors.
Josiah Carnwath claimed the top spot in a personal best time of 9:43.72 with
Nathaniel Coggins finishing second in a personal best 9:58.71. After a pair of Messiah alum crossed the line,
Eli McClymont crossed the line in a time of 10:08.84 in his Steeplechase debut.
Celyn Evans (10:52.80) finished just ahead of teammate
Matthew Rush (10:54.49).
Tyler Billet clocked a time of 10:56.68 to round out the Falcons' efforts.
Jack Safer was the top Falcon in the 100 Meter Dash with a personal best time of 11.46.
Cooper Schwartz crossed the line in a personal best time of 11.55 while
Declan Hsieh (12.28) and Jace Russel (12.30) also clocked personal best times.
Messiah went 1-2 in the 1500 Meter Run with
Kaleb Kabakjian taking the top spot in 4:01.97, just two seconds off his personal best set last meet and
Samuel Hennett clocking a 4:05.98, less than half a second from his best.
Luke Acton finished less than a second from his personal best with a time of 4:24.20 with
Kaiden Braught clocking a personal best of 4:41.26.
The duo of
Sean Baxter and
Valen Shrum-Groff toed the line for the 400 Meter Dash with Baxter crossing in a time of 51.30 and Shrum-Groff clocking a 51.58.
Evan Sarkett was the top Falcon in the 800 Meter Run, crossing in a time of 1:58.30.
Bradley Kreider registered a time of 2:02.23 in his 800 Meter debut to finish just outside the top ten in 11th.
Micah Kao clocked a time of 2:04.31 in his debut while
Caleb McInnes finished in a personal best time of 2:08.26.
Larsen Cooper (2:10.68),
Jake Shoul (2:12.85), and
Will Keane (2:13.03, personal best) also contended for Messiah.
In the 400 Meter Hurdles,
Daniel Erikson led a Falcon duo, crossing in a personal best time of 58.47 with
Will Xenakis crossing in a time of 60.24.
In the 200 Meter Dash,
Jack Safer (23.23) finished just ahead of
Sean Baxter (23.25) as Messiah's only contestants in the final individual event on the track, both clocking personal best times.
The 4x800 Meter Relay team of
Evan Sarkett,
Nathan Steen,
Kaleb Kabakjian, and
Sean Baxter combined for a time of 8:04.50 to claim the top spot. Sarkett battled through a tough opening leg, fighting for better position for the first handoff. Steen and Kabakjian fought for the top spot as Kabakjian began creating further separation from the second place team that allowed Baxter to run the anchor leg with little to no pressure.
The team of
Will Xenakis,
Valen Shrum-Groff,
Daniel Satariano, and
Zion Buck combined for a time of 3:32.52 to finish fifth in the 4x400 Meter Relay.
In the Field
The Falcons claimed an early highlight in the field with
Zion Buck claiming the top spot in the Long Jump with a personal best distance of 6.89 meters.
Declan Hsieh finished with a mark of 5.34 meters.
Zion Buck returned to the runway for the Triple Jump where he finished as the top collegiate finisher with a personal best of 14.18 meters, finishing only behind Messiah alum and coach,
Brendan Provan.
Joseph Dunbar jumped a personal best of 12.41 meters to finish ninth with
Declan Hsieh finishing with a personal best of 11.18 meters.
Messiah also had an early highlight in the throws, with
Nathan Bowman and
Ted Lechthaler claiming the top two spots. Bowman registered a 15.59 meter toss to finish atop the Shot Put field with Lechthaler's toss of 14.77 meters placing second.
Luke Bosma finished ninth with a season best 13.49 meters.
Jake Holland finished with a season best of 11.65 meters while
Anthony Russo finished with a distance of 11.01 meters.
Gamaliel Perde (11.22 meters, personal best) and Jace Russell (10.92 meters) also competed for the Falcons.
Ted Lechthaler finished 10th in the Hammer Throw with a personal best distance of 42.95 meters.
Gamaliel Perde finished with a mark of 36.24 meters in his debut of the event.
In the Javelin Throw,
Cooper Schwartz led the Falcons with a personal best distance of 49.48 meters.
Luke Bosma finished close behind with a mark of 48.22 meters while
Joseph Dunbar registered a mark of 47.63 meters in his debut.
Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Saturday, April 18, when they compete at the Millersville Invite.
