FHU to see three marathoners compete in National Championships

May 26, 2022

by Dustin Semore, Sports Information Director

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Freed-Hardeman University will see three runners compete in the 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Gulf Shores, Alabama's Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.

Madison Grant will compete in the women's half-marathon, while Nathan Mangrum and Matthew Ray will compete in the men's half-marathon. All three runners qualified for the final site's race with strong performances earlier this year.

Both Grant and Ray qualified with their medal performances at Decatur, Alabama's Carnival Frolic Half-Marathon. Ray's 1:13:46.8 finish saw him take home the fastest time of the race by nearly three minutes. Grant was one of the top female finishers with a 6:44 minute mile to finish at 1:30:32.6

Mangrum's qualification came on the heels of New Orleans' Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon in February. Finishing eighth overall, Mangrum's 1:12:00 saw him place fourth in the 18-24 age division.

Grant will compete against 31 other runners in the women's half-marathon, while Ray and Mangrum will run in a field of 51 total racers in the men's half-marathon.

Hoping to beat both the rain and the Alabama summer heat, the gun is scheduled to sound at 6:00 a.m. on Friday, May 27.