Milligan's Peralta Wins Individual National Championship; Montreat Finishes 16th

ASHEVILLE, N.C. - The Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) was well represented at the 2026 NAIA Men's Outdoor Track & Field National Championship meet, which was held at Karl Straus Track in Asheville, N.C., on May 20-22.

Luis Peralta of Milligan provided the biggest highlight as he won the individual national championship in the 800-meter run, crossing the line in 1:47.94.

Peralta was one of the nine NAIA All-Americans the AAC produced this year. The other honorees are:

• Nathan Cremin, Montreat - 800-meter run (second)
• Ryan Stade, Montreat - 10,000-meter run (second)
• Marti Molins, Milligan - 1,500-meter run (eighth)
• Elijah Goddard, Truett McConnell - 200-meter run (sixth)
• Dylan Simms, Truett McConnell - shot put (eighth)
• Cameron Montgomery, Columbia International - shot put (second)
• Philip Drake, Bryan - high jump (sixth)
• Bryan McClendon, Reinhardt - high jump (sixth)

In the team competition, Montreat led the AAC teams with a 16th-place finish with 16 points, with Milligan following in 25th with 11 points. Columbia International (34th, 8 points), Truett McConnell (51st, 4 points), Bryan (65th, 1 point), and Reinhardt (65th, 1 points) rounded out the field.

For a complete look at the results, click here.