ASHEVILLE, N.C. – IU Kokomo junior thrower Sydney Duncan made program history Thursday, winning the hammer throw at the 2026 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships, hosted by University of North Carolina at Asheville. Duncan's victory marks the first national championship in IU Kokomo athletics history outside of the shot put.
Duncan delivered a championship-winning mark of 56.78 meters to claim the national title, finishing .22 meters ahead of the runner-up in a tightly contested final. Her throw held up through the final round of competition, as challengers pushed into the 56-meter range but were unable to surpass her mark, with the closest competitor reaching 56.56 meters.
The junior's path to the title came in dramatic fashion. The top nine athletes advanced to the finals, and Duncan entered her final prelim attempt outside the qualifying cut line. Facing elimination, she responded with a massive 56.78-meter throw on her third and final attempt, vaulting into the lead and taking command of the competition heading into the finals. Her mark ultimately stood as the winning throw through the remainder of the event.
The championship adds to an already decorated career, as Duncan now becomes an eight-time NAIA All-American. The victory also represents her first national title outside of shot put, further expanding her dominance across multiple throwing events for IU Kokomo.
Duncan had previously finished ninth in the hammer throw at last year's national championships, narrowly missing All-America honors by one spot before returning this season to capture the event crown.
Sydney will continue her national meet campaign, returning to action in the shot put on Thursday before competing in the discus on Friday. She will be joined in the shot put ring by teammate Mia Bustos as both look to build on strong performances for IU Kokomo at the national championships.
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