BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The UW-River Falls track and field team closed out competition at the 2026 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday highlighted by a historic performance from Jacob Balcome in the men's heptathlon.

Balcome delivered a record-setting performance to claim the NCAA Division III National Championship, finishing with 5,487 total points to break the meet record of 5,484. The junior captured the national title after two days of competition across seven events, becoming the second athlete to ever win the event in consecutive years. 

Balcome's championship run began Friday with a strong opening day. He clocked 7.24 in the 60 meters, jumped 6.68 meters in the long jump, and recorded 12.90 meters in the shot put before soaring to 2.04 meters in the high jump, the top mark in the field.

He carried that momentum into Saturday, opening the day with 8.42 in the 60-meter hurdles to remain in contention for the title. Balcome then cleared 4.45 meters in the pole vault, keeping him atop the standings heading into the final event.

In the last event, the 1,000m, Balcome crossed the line in 2:44.59, securing the national championship and cementing his place in Division III history with the meet-record point total.

Also representing the Falcons on the final day was Yaih Marial in the men's high jump. Making his return to the national stage in Birmingham, Marial cleared 1.98 meters (6-6) to finish 12th overall in the championship field. With his finish, Marial earned USTFCCCA Second-Team All-America honors, adding another national accolade to the Falcons' weekend.

The Falcons close the indoor season with a national champion and an All-American performance, capping off a successful showing on the national stage in Birmingham.