Noble clocks 13:24.78 to edge reigning Division 1 10,000-meter champion Dever, with Fegans and Porter also earning distance victories on opening night at North Carolina State

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Christian Noble of Lee University delivered the most impressive outdoor performance of his remarkable collegiate career Thursday at the Raleigh Relays, winning the men’s 5,000 meters in a lifetime-best 13 minutes, 24.78 seconds to elevate to the No. 2 competitor in NCAA Division 2 history.

Noble, who ranks No. 4 all-time in the Division 2 indoor 5,000 at 13:37.39, improved on his previous-best outdoor performance of 13:48.68 from 2020.

He held off former Tulsa standout Patrick Dever, the reigning Division 1 champion in the 10,000 meters now representing PUMA Elite, who clocked 13:26.84. They led 27 athletes running under 14 minutes and 199 competitors producing sub-15 performances.

Noble, who won the 3,000-meter steeplechase at last year’s Raleigh Relays in 8:39.86, trails only the Division 2 record of 13:22.64 achieved in 2002 by Western Colorado’s Michael Aish.

Georgia Tech’s Nicole Fegans prevailed in the women’s 10,000 in 33:00.89, with Georgetown’s Maggie Donahue placing second in 33:05.56.

Lee’s Celine Ritter was 11th in 33:42.90, ascending to the No. 16 competitor in Division 2 history.

Virginia’s Wes Porter prevailed in the men’s 1,500 in 3:39.73, with Colin Schultz of Run Flagstaff finishing second in 3:40.23.

North Carolina’s Madison Wiltrout edged Washington’s Ida Eikeng in the women’s javelin throw by a 183-7 (55.96m) to 182-3 (55.56m) margin.

Penn’s Marc Minichello triumphed in the men’s javelin with a mark of 240-7 (73.35m).

North Dakota State teammates Trevor Otterdahl and Kristoffer Thomsen took the top two spots in the men’s shot put. Otterdahl prevailed with a 62-6.75 (19.07m) effort and Thomsen had a mark of 62-5.25 (19.03m).

Bowling Green’s Zaresha Neal won the women’s shot put with a 55-1 (16.79m) performance.

Three competitors cleared 13-7.25 (4.15m) in the women’s pole vault, with Michigan State’s Sophia Franklin emerging victorious against North Carolina’s Alex Potts and Towson’s Hayley Horvath based on fewer attempts.