GENEVA, Ohio — For the fourth time in his career, Yakob Ekoue (Sr. – Hopkins, Minn.) stood atop the podium at the NCAA Championships.

Ekoue completed a second consecutive national title in men's discus to highlight the opening day of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Thursday at SPIRE Institute. He won the national crown for the second time running, and brought his career total to four national championships — three in outdoor and another in indoor.

Ekoue's heave of 58.17 meters registers as the eighth-best throw in meet history. Gage Stankiewicz (Sr. – Esko, Minn.) joined him on the podium, finishing seventh to earn All-America status in the event for the first time in his career. Soren Johnson (Jr. – Fall Creek, Wis.) placed 15th.

Ekoue's national title was a big boost for the Blugold men, who sit in second place in the team standings after the first day. They have 12 points, trailing only UW-Oshkosh's 24.

The Blugold women are tied for third place with 13 points. MIT leads the meet with 17. The Blugold women produced two All-Americans on the first day, including a national runner-up finish from Laura Bertrang (So. – New Ulm, Minn.) in the javelin. She had a long throw of 41.88 meters to finish in second place and earn the first All-America first team honor of her career.

In women's discus, Kayla Behnke (Sr. – Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) earned the seventh All-America honor of her career with a fourth-place finish. Her best throw sailed 44.02 meters.

The Blugolds also had several multi athletes in action on the first day of the decathlon and heptathlon. Emilee Booker (Sr. – Genoa City, Wis./Badger) sits third in heptathlon and Emma Gruen (Sr. – Elroy, Wis./Royall) is fifth. Mitch Stegeman (Sr. – Coleman, Wis./Suring) is ninth in decathlon and Max Foland (Sr. – Middleton, Wis.) is 13th.

In prelim action, the Blugolds advanced to the finals in the men's and women's 4x100-meter relays along with the women's 4x400-meter relay. Sam Verkerke (Sr. – White Bear Lake, Minn.) advanced to the finals of the men's 1,500 meters. Blake Postler (Fr. – Weston, Wis./D.C. Everest) moved into the finals of the men's 400-meter hurdles. Mason Shea (Sr. – River Falls, Wis.) advanced to the finals of the men's steeplechase.

The three-day meet resumes on Friday at 10 a.m. Eastern.

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