EMPORIA, Kan. – Minnesota State men's track and field finished 16^th (17 points) at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships Saturday at Welch Stadium, hosted by Emporia State. The Mavericks crowned seven student-athletes (and one relay team) with All-America recognition, including four First Team honorees.
 
Pittsburgh State won the NCAA Division II team championship with 78 points. West Texas A&M (64), Harding (50), Missouri Southern (42) and Grand Valley State (41.5) rounded out the top five.
 
Thursday, junior Jabez Reeves sprinted to a school record in 100 meter dash (prelims) while senior James Gilbert turned in a First Team All-America performance after he finished fifth in long jump. Gilbert landed in the top-10 in the nation for the second straight season with a mark of 7.87m (25' 10").
 
On day two, Senior Carter Aguilera took 10^th place in discus for Second Team All-America with a mark of 51.95 meters (168' 8"). Aguilera improved on his 13th place finish in 2022-23 and 11th place mark in 2021-22.
 
Senior Shemar Miller assisted the Mavericks on Saturday with a second place triple jump mark of 15.98 meters (52' 5.25"), 0.01 meters shy of Tre Betts (Pittsburgh State) for the National title. Onyekachi Ukaobasi also grabbed first team All-America with his eighth place mark of 15.45 meters (50' 8.25") in the same event. Jordan Spencer placed 12^th for the Mavericks (14.98m, 49' 1.75") for Second Team All-America status.
 
Sandwiched between Miller's competition in the triple jump, MSU's 4x100 meter relay team of Nicholas Sharma, Reeves, Richlu Tudee and Miller ran to sixth place in a time of 40.11, giving the Mavericks three additional team points.
 
Senior Steven Orzolek locked up 12^th place in shot put with a mark of 17.26 meters (56' 7.5") for Second Team All-America.
 
Reeves returned Saturday in the 100 meter dash finals and placed eighth in 10.81 for First Team All-America. He did not start in the 200 meter finals.
 
The Mavericks entered the weekend ranked No. 5 in the nation. The team improved on its 27^th place finish last season (11 points) at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.