Men's Track and Field | 5/11/2026 10:12:00 PM

Oberlin, Ohio – Excelling during the final-qualifier period, Namu Makatiani highlighted the Oberlin College track & field team by breaking his own program record in the 110m hurdles on Friday at the Harrison Dillard Twilight, hosted by Baldwin Wallace, and defeating his newly-established record on Monday at the Widener Final Qualifier. 

On Friday, Makatiani clocked in a time of 14.56 in the 110m hurdle prelims, advancing to the finals and defeating his own record of 14.64 that he set at last year's conference championships. Later in the afternoon, the Kenyan native earned a bronze position with a time of 14.58. 

In the 800m, Cooper Tanski clocked in a time of 1:55.09, placing eighth out of the large field of 68 finishers.

Simon Tang continued to chip away at his 400m hurdle Northern Mariana Islands national record, crossing the line in 57.89. 

Char Purcell ran an impressive 18:00.76 in the 5,000m, placing 12th overall in the deep field of 51. Grant Hirsch followed in the men's race, recording a 13-second personal best of 15:54.79. 

Producing his second personal record of the day, Kit Evans crossed the line in 24.12 in the 200m, improving on his previous best by over 1.5 seconds. 

In the 1500m, Liam Newman notched a personal best of 3:57.18 while Will Gordon delivered a PR of 4:08.20 to close out the day for the Crimson and Gold. 

Returning to the track on Monday at the Widener Final Qualifier, Makatiani carried his record-breaking momentum in the 110m hurdles. Running 14.66 in the prelims and securing the last spot in the finals, the senior ran 14.51 in the finals, beating the record he just set three days earlier. 

In the ensuing event, Ella Wozek clocked in a time of 2:13.23 in the 800m, just one hundredth shy of her personal best. Tanski continued his 800m success, registering a personal best of 1:54.50 and advancing himself from sixth to third all-time in program history. 

Over on the runway, Makatiani jumped to a season best of 14.63m in the triple jump. With his mark of 14.63m, the senior currently sits at 21st in Division III. Gordon closed out the day on the track for Oberlin, running a season best of 15:26.06. 

The top 22 individual performances in each event qualify athletes for the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, hosted from May 21 to 23 at Veterans' Memorial Field Sports Complex in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The official qualifying list will be announced this Friday, May 15. 

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