LA CROSSE, Wis. – History was made. Chapman University started the NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships with a bang. The men's 4x400m relay became the first men's relay in Chapman history to earn All-American honors.

The men's relay of Charley McCarthy, Mason Fara, Wyn Smoole and Alex Vazquez placed 10th overall to earn All-America Second Team honors. The Panthers missed the finals by less than a second.

The first men's relay team to qualify for a national championship paced the pack early as Fara gave the Panthers a slight lead during the second leg. The last half of the relay was able to stay toward the front of the field but fell back into fourth place. The time of 3:12.13 was less than half of a second behind the last qualifying team from the first heat.

Fara will run another 400 tomorrow as he competes in the individual 400m dash preliminary round. He is competing in the event for the third time in his career at the national championship meet. He placed 11th a year ago and comes into the event ranked eighth in Division III.

Day Two: Fara wraps up historic career

Fara went on to compete in the 400 meter sprint on day two. He was unable to finish his last race due to an injury. Fara will go on as one of the most dominant sprinters in Chapman's Division III era and the SCIAC. He was named the SCIAC Track Athlete of the Year in 2025. He also walks away as a four-time NCAA Second Team All-American. That includes two-times each at indoor nationals and outdoor nationals. Fara also walks away with seven program records. 

Additionally, Fara earned multiple SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors, and is a multi-time SCIAC Champion in 4x400 relay, the 200 and 400 meter sprint. The senior is also graduating with his degree in Enviornmental Science and Policy. 

Day Three: Balady makes first NCAA appearance in pole vault

Thatch Balady made his NCAA Champioships debut on Saturday to conclude Chapman's run of three events in the men's championship meet. He placed 17th in the pole vault.

Balady cleared his opening height at 4.75 meters (15-feet, 7-inches) on his first attempt. However, he missed all three attempts at 4.90 meters to finish in a tie for 17th.

With Balady competing on Saturday, the Panthers concluded their biggest men's contingent to ever compete at the NCAA Division III Championships. The Panthers sent a relay team, Fara in the 400m and Balady in the pole vault to the national championship meet. 

The 2026 season came to a close with Balady's final attempt on the pole vault.