Higginbotham Claims Second National Title as School-Record Three Earn All-America Status

Asheville, N.C.--Koby Higginbotham (Fr., Knoxville, Iowa, Exercise Science) led from start to finish, picking up his second national crown as the William Penn men's track and field team battled at the 74th Annual NAIA Outdoor National Championship Wednesday through Friday.

Higginbotham won Friday's 110-meter hurdles title in a time of 13.91 seconds.  The freshman, who also took home the 60-meter hurdles championship in the indoor campaign, is the first Statesmen in school history to win multiple national crowns.  He is the fourth male champion all-time at WPU.

Higginbotham qualified sixth in the preliminary round (14.03 seconds), but dominated the finals from the blocks to the finish line, holding off the nearest hurdler by .11 seconds.

Andrew Miller (Jr., Le Claire, Iowa, Exercise Science) and Xzavion West (Sr., Guthrie, Ky., Psychology) joined their teammate by also finishing on the podium.

Miller placed sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 9:14.52, moving up from 10th in qualifying.  It is his first All-America accolade.

West collected his second career All-America award (hammer throw in 2025 outdoor season), ending up seventh in the hammer throw at 192-8.  The senior is the 10th Statesmen to notch multiple All-America honors.

William Penn has now produced 40 All-Americans, including 26 over the last 10 years.  The three podium-finishers is the most in one Championship in program history.

West was 19th in the shot put as well with a mark of 51-9.75.

The 4x100-meter relay team of Usir McClellan (Fr., St. Petersburg, Fla., Information Technology), Youssef Hamed (Jr., Al Wakrah, Qatar, Business Management), Keena Taylor (Fr., St. Petersburg, Fla., Business Management), and Travaughn Robbins-Hall (So., Lauderhill, Fla., Software Engineering) finished 18th in the preliminary round in 40.82 seconds.

Taylor also competed in the 200-meter dash, but unfortunately was injured during the prelims and placed 20th in 34.96 seconds.

Cumberlands (Ky.) took the team crown with 79 points.

"More than half of our events ended in All-America honors," Head Coach Victoria Vinokur said.  "These men went out and fought for everything.  While weather was a big factor this weekend, they dealt with it in stride.  The cherry on top was Koby again becoming a national champion.  These men were nothing short of remarkable this weekend."