IU Kokomo athlete is second NAIA champion in school history

IU Kokomo women's track and field athlete Sydney Duncan became the second national champion in school history Saturday, March 1, as she won the national championship in shotput at the 2025 NAIA Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship.

Duncan did what she had done all season, dominate the field, winning by more than two meters with a personal best throw of 17.60 meters.

Here's what Sydney had to say after making history: “Thank you coaches for supporting me and working to help me compete at my best. Thank you to my teammates who are always hyping me up from the corner and keeping me humble. Thank you to the athletic department and the community for the attention you bring to the sport. Thank you, God, for gifting me with the natural talent and drive and placing me in the environment that I need to grow. Indoor Nattys is over, but I'm not done."

IU Kokomo's first NAIA national champion happens to be current throws coach Grant Gaylor, who won the national championship in shotput at the 2021 NAIA Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

Duncan, a sophomore from Anderson, Ind., set the tone for her six throws from the jump, delivering her best opening throw (16.46 m) to date, a mark that would have won her the individual title by more than a meter.

After a slight improvement on her second attempt, she delivered a bomb on her third and final throw of Flight 2 action. Her mark of 17.60 meters proved to be the best of the day, but also one of the furthest marks the NAIA has ever seen.

Going into the finals with a 2.38-meter lead over second place Kori Nagel of Dickinson State, Duncan turned in throws of 16.48 m and 15.85 m with a fault sandwiched between the two, having already done more than enough for the victory. Nagel faulted on all three attempts in the finals, clinching Duncan a 2.38-meter win at the indoor national championships

When asked about Duncan’s national championship efforts, head coach Josh Colvin remarked, "It wasn't a matter if she was going to win but more about how far she would throw. She won it on her first throw. We were thinking 17.00 m would be phenomenal, and she dropped a 17.60 to put the competition out of reach and set a PR and school record."

While Duncan's best mark Saturday won her the championship, it is also the best mark at the NAIA indoor national championship meet since 2005. That toss of 17.74 meters in '05 came from Vivian Chukwuemeka, a Nigerian shot putter who had already competed at the 2000 Olympics and later competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

"We could not be prouder of Sydney for bringing home a national championship and etching her name in the IUK history books. This remarkable achievement is the result of tireless dedication, discipline, and a commitment to excellence," stated IUK Director of Athletics Heather Hayes.

Hayes went on, saying "A championship of this caliber doesn't happen without an incredible support system. We want to give tremendous credit to our outstanding coaching staff, whose expertise, mentorship, and belief in our student-athletes make moments like this possible. This championship is a testament to the strength of our program, the spirit of our community, and the bright future ahead for IUK Athletics. We celebrate this incredible accomplishment, knowing that it is only the beginning of even greater things to come!”

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