Tigers Start Strong on Day 1 of NCAA Outdoor Championships

LA CROSSE, WI - The Wittenberg Tigers got off to a tremendous start on Day 1 of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, hosted by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, as sophomore Jack Kittle (Chagrin Falls, OH / Chagrin Falls) advanced to the finals as an individual and as a member of the 4x400-meter relay.

Kittle posted a time of 21.36 to finish in ninth place in the 200-meter dash. He finished third in his heat behind runners from Rowan and Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Kai Smith of Salisbury was the top qualifier with a time of 20.81.

The finals race of the 200-meter dash is scheduled for 4:50 p.m. Saturday, May 23. Kittle placed 15th to earn second-team All-America honors in the event last year, and he came into the 2026 event with the 15th fastest time among the 22 runners qualified to participate.

A few hours later, Kittle turned in a big-time anchor leg of the 4x400-meter relay to power the Tigers to a fifth-place overall finish. When he received the baton, the Tigers were toward the back of the pack, but Kittle clocked a phenomenal 45.69 split to move Wittenberg into fourth place in the heat with a final time of 3:11.03.

Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wisconsin-La Crosse, and John Carroll finished in the top three spots in the Tigers' heat. Six of the nine teams to advance to the finals competed in Heat 1. Kittle was joined on the relay by graduate student Cameron Elliott (Springfield, OH / Springfield), junior Owen Bier (Elyria, OH / Midview), and sophomore Kory Davis (Brookville, OH / Brookville).

Friday is a big day for the Tigers as sophomore Cayla Eaton (North Lewisburg, OH / Triad) will compete in the high jump, Davis will run in the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles, and Kittle will race in the prelims of the 400-meter dash.

Written By: Ryan Maurer