Six Foresters compete on big stage, Xayarath earns All-American praise

MARION, Ind. – The Huntington University track and field program turned in a standout performance at the 2025 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, hosted by Indiana Wesleyan, with several Foresters outperforming expectations and etching their names into the record books.

 

The men's 4x400 meter relay team stole the spotlight for Coach Austin Roark's squad. Despite being seeded 10th, the quartet of Zach Collins, Celestin Trambloy, Jan Busam and Jayden Williams raced to a stunning second-place finish in 3:11.48, breaking the school record and earning All-American honors.

 

Graduate student Erica Xayarath delivered a clutch performance in her final collegiate appearance. Seeded 19th in long jump, the Fort Wayne native launched a personal-best 5.80 meters in her final collegiate leap to finish fourth—just 1.5 inches shy of the national title—earning the HU women's lone All-American distinction.

 

Freshman Jayden Williams proved to be a breakout star. Ranked 22nd in the 800 meters, he surged to an eighth-place finish, then returned less than 90 minutes later to anchor the 4x400 relay's silver-medal run, becoming a two-time All-American.

 

In the 4x100 meter relay, Collins and Busam joined forces with Sam Handerson and Jonathan Farinha to earn a fourth-place finish and another All-American recognition. Farinha doubled up individually, sprinting to seventh in the 100 meters.

 

As a team, the HU men placed 15th out of 69 programs with 19 points, while the Forester women finished 45th with five points. British Columbia swept both team titles, with Madonna, William Carey, Marian, and Carroll rounding out the top five on the men's side and Life, William Carey, Dickinson State and Doan rounding out the top five on the women's side. 

 

Erica Xayarath – long jump – 4th place (5.80 meters)

 

Jonathan Farinha – 100m – 7th place (10.41)

Celestin Trambloy – 400m hurdles – 6th place (52.38) 

Jayden Williams – 800m – 8th (1:51.48)

4x100m relay – Sam Handerson, Zach Collins, Jan Busam, Jonathan Farinha (4th – 39.86)

4x400m relay – Zach Collins, Celestin Trambloy, Jayden Williams, Jan Busam (2nd – 3:11.48)

 

Long Jump – Erica Xayarath (2nd – 5.80 meters)

800m – Olivia Howell (4th - 2:13.67)

 

800m – Jayden Wiliams (1st – 1:51.37)

4x400m relay - Zach Collins, Celestin Trambloy, Jayden Williams, Jan Busam (1st – 3:11.48)

 

400m Hurdles - Trysta Hilton (11th – 1:03.25)

800m – Olivia Howell (14th – 2:13.67)

1500m – Emily Tedder (11th – 4:35.31)

5000m – Emily Tedder (12th – 17:38.76)

10,000m – Abbey Getz (21st – 38:50.14)

High Jump – Josey Reineman (25th – 1.61m)

Long Jump – Erica Xayarath (4th – 5.80m)

 

100m – Jonathan Farinha (7th – 10.41)

200m – Zach Collins (18th – 21.48), Jonathan Farinha (24th – 21.56)

400m – Jan Busam (19th – 48.89)

400m hurdles – Celestin Trambloy (6th – 52.38)

800m – Jayden Williams (8th – 1:51.48)

3000m Steeplechase – Reece Gibson (21st – 9:49.62)

4x100m relay – Sam Handerson, Zach Collins, Jan Busam, Jonathan Farinha (4th – 39.86)

4x400m relay – Zach Collins, Celestin Trambloy, Jayden Williams, Jan Busam (2nd – 3:11.48)

 

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 160 NAIA All-America honors and 567 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.