Men's Track and Field 5/20/2025 11:46:00 AM

Fourteen Phoenix Headed to NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships set to begin Tomorrow

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland University will send 14 student-athletes to compete at the 2025 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, hosted May 21-23 on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. The Phoenix will be represented by seven men and seven women in a variety of events, looking to build on a historic showing from a year ago.

Cumberland's women are coming off their best finish in program history, placing third overall at last year's national meet, while the men finished 39th. With multiple top-10 national marks entering the championships, the Phoenix are poised to make another strong impact on the national stage.

Women's Preview

Leading the way for the Phoenix is senior Praise Idamadudu, one of the most decorated athletes in NAIA history. The seven-time national champion enters the meet as the top seed in the 400-meter dash (53.75) and ranks fourth in the 200 meters (23.64). Idamadudu will be defending both the 400m and 200m titles. She has won the 400m the last three years and is vying for a coveted 4-time champion in a single event that just four other NAIA athletes have accomplished. She is also a two-time champion in the 200m. She will also anchor the 4x400 meter relay, which enters ranked 11th nationally with a time of 3:50.12. She is joined in the relay pool by Leesa Mutandwa, Ezthia Maycock, Isabella Lehtinen, and Ifunanya Muoghalu.

Isabelle Aalders qualified in two field events, ranking 12th in the high jump (1.70m) and 14th in the javelin throw (42.08m). Zoe Vlk, a sophomore, qualified in the shot put with a mark of 13.58 meters, good for 15th nationally. Lehtinen adds another event to her schedule, earning an individual bid in the 400-meter hurdles where she holds the eighth-best time in the country at 1:01.60.

Men's Preview

Freshman standout Mustapha Bokpin headlines the men's squad after a breakout season. Bokpin is ranked second nationally in the 100-meter dash (10.13) and third in the 200-meter dash (20.49). He also runs a leg of the 4x400 meter relay, which enters the championships ranked 13th after a season-best 3:13.08. The relay unit also features Logan Istre, Veron Ifill, Benjamin Nyakudya, and Dinkon Sinisterra.

Kennedy Bett, another freshman, brings distance strength to the roster and will race in the 10,000 meters Wednesday night. Bett enters with the 10th-best time in the country (30:35.65) after earning All-American honors during the fall cross country season.

In the field events, junior Amir Mersal will compete in the triple jump. Mersal is ranked ninth in the NAIA with a leap of 15.03 meters and looks to secure his first outdoor All-American honor.

Championship Notes

This year marks the third consecutive season Indiana Wesleyan University has hosted the national championships. The meet begins Wednesday, May 21, and runs through Friday, May 23, with a full slate of preliminary and final events each day.

Fans can find ticket information and follow live results and recaps through the Championship Central Page here.

Event Schedule for the Phoenix

Athlete	Event	Date	Time (ET)	National Rank
Isabella Lehtinen	Women's 400m Hurdles (Prelims)	Wed, May 21	4:30 p.m.	8th
Praise Idamadudu	Women's 200m Dash (Prelims)	Wed, May 21	5:20 p.m.	4th
Mustapha Bokpin	Men's 200m Dash (Prelims)	Wed, May 21	5:35 p.m.	3rd
Isabelle Aalders	Women's Javelin Throw	Wed, May 21	6:30 p.m.	14th
Kennedy Bett	Men's 10,000m Run	Wed, May 21	9:10 p.m.	10th
Zoe Vlk	Women's Shot Put	Thurs, May 22	1:00 p.m.	15th
Mustapha Bokpin	Men's 100m Dash (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	3:40 p.m.	2nd
Praise Idamadudu	Women's 400m Dash (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	4:00 p.m.	1st
Praise Idamadudu	Women's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:15 p.m.	11th (team)
Leesa Mutandwa	Women's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:15 p.m.	11th (team)
Ezthia Maycock	Women's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:15 p.m.	11th (team)
Isabella Lehtinen	Women's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:15 p.m.	11th (team)
Ifunanya Muoghalu	Women's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:15 p.m.	11th (team)
Mustapha Bokpin	Men's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:45 p.m.	13th (team)
Logan Istre	Men's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:45 p.m.	13th (team)
Veron Ifill	Men's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:45 p.m.	13th (team)
Benjamin Nyakudya	Men's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:45 p.m.	13th (team)
Dinkon Sinisterra	Men's 4x400m Relay (Prelims)	Thurs, May 22	8:45 p.m.	13th (team)
Amir Mersal	Men's Triple Jump	Fri, May 23	1:30 p.m.	9th
Isabelle Aalders	Women's High Jump	Fri, May 23	2:00 p.m.	12th
Mustapha Bokpin	Men's 100m Dash (Final)	Fri, May 23	3:00 p.m.	—
Isabella Lehtinen	Women's 400m Hurdles (Final)	Fri, May 23	3:10 p.m.	—
Praise Idamadudu	Women's 400m Dash (Final)	Fri, May 23	3:30 p.m.	—
Praise Idamadudu	Women's 200m Dash (Final)	Fri, May 23	4:10 p.m.	—
Mustapha Bokpin	Men's 200m Dash (Final)	Fri, May 23	4:20 p.m.	—
Praise Idamadudu	Women's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:15 p.m.	—
Leesa Mutandwa	Women's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:15 p.m.	—
Ezthia Maycock	Women's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:15 p.m.	—
Isabella Lehtinen	Women's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:15 p.m.	—
Ifunanya Muoghalu	Women's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:15 p.m.	—
Mustapha Bokpin	Men's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:25 p.m.	—
Logan Istre	Men's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:25 p.m.	—
Veron Ifill	Men's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:25 p.m.	—
Benjamin Nyakudya	Men's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:25 p.m.	—
Dinkon Sinisterra	Men's 4x400m Relay (Final)	Fri, May 23	5:25 p.m.	—