National championship qualifiers miss ‘official’ commencement

Seniors Emma Odle and Aykeem Spivey had to miss their “official” Commencement Convocation on May 25 — for a pretty good reason! They were competing at the NCAA DIII Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C., that weekend.

Chad Gunnelson, director of track & field and cross country, arranged for a special commencement ceremony before the student-athletes left campus for nationals. Both received their diplomas from President Andrea Talentino in front of family and friends in Hanson Hall.

How did they do at nationals?

Charlotte Frere '26

National Champion – Discus throw

Charlotte Frere '26 of Preemption, Ill., conquered the discus throw event on the first day of the 2024 NCAA DIII National Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C. The sophomore is the first women’s track & field outdoor national champion since Meghan Voiland '07 McMillan in the pole vault in 2007.

Frere posted 50.27 meters (164 feet and 11 inches) in her second attempt, which was only one centimeter farther than second place. Frere’s distance secured a new personal best by .25 meters.

This marks the third consecutive season that the women’s track & field team has boasted an All-American at the national DIII outdoor championships. The last Viking athlete to claim an individual national title was Marckus Simmons in the hammer throw in 2017.

Emma Odle '24

All-American – 3000-meter steeplechase

On the first day of competition, Emma Odle '24 of Inverness, Ill., qualified for the 3000-meter steeplechase with a 12th place finish and a time of 10:39.40 to secure a new personal best and beat her own program record.

In the finals, Odle ran a time of 10:51.25 to finish 11th overall and earn Second Team All-American honors.

Aykeem Spivey '24

All-American – Hammer throw

Aykeem Spivey '24 of Gurnee, Ill., captured the first All-American honors since 2021 for the men’s track & field team, earning sixth place in the hammer throw at the DIII outdoor nationals.

Spivey secured First Team All-American status with a distance of 60.84 meters (199 feet, 7 inches) in his third attempt. This distance was a new personal best. Spivey is only the sixth All-American in the hammer throw in school history.