MANKATO, Minn. – It's been a debut season to remember, one that just keeps getting better and better for Jasiah Hambira who also keeps getting better and better.

Minot State's freshman jumper, who has broken records all year in the high jump, broke the NSIC record in the event and won his first NSIC Championship with a new career-best effort at the NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Friday hosted by Minnesota State, Mankato.

Clearing 6 feet, 8.75 inches and 6-9.75 on his first attempt at each height, Hambira distanced himself from the field, then on his third attempt at 7 feet, 0.25 inches, he cleared the bar breaking his own all-time outdoor Minot State record in the event, the NSIC record, and winning his first NSIC Championship.

That winning performance broke the NSIC record of 7-feet-even set by Brian Rabenberg of Minnesota State Moorhead way back in 1988. It also broke Hambira's own all-time outdoor school record of 6-11.75 from last month and is an NCAA qualifying mark that ranks the Beaver freshman No. 11 in the nation currently.

"Jasiah had a great day today!" Minot State coach Steven Schultz said. "We had talked coming in about not messing around on the lower heights, and he did a good job of focusing on that. He is on a great upward trajectory and I'm really excited to see what he can do in Kansas in 2 weeks!"
The NCAA National Championships will be hosted by Emporia State in Kansas, May 23-25, and Hambira is now poised for a first-ever invitation to nationals.

Hambira also becomes only the second Beaver high jumper to eclipse 7 feet, joining Zach Ryan who holds the all-time indoor Minot State record as he cleared 7-1.5 in 2010.

"To be honest, this is everything I dreamt of since I left high school," Hambira said. "Early in the year Coach Steven (Schultz) and I talked about my goals for the season and I said I wanted to win conference; go to nationals and win there as well.

"Nothing I have done thus far has surprised me. At the beginning of the season, I knew what it would take to win and I set my goals based on that and now I'm seeing the results of chasing my dreams. What's left is to trust God and focus these next two weeks.

"It's nice to join the 7-foot club but I know the job isn't done," the Beavers newest NSIC champion said. "I'm grateful for the opportunity in front of me. Working with Coach Kelly (Hady) has been awesome too, and between Kelly, Steven, and Jerrad (Mason), I have an amazing group of coaches and people supporting me and helping develop me."

While Hambira's win set the tone, he was one of two Beavers who earned All-NSIC honors with a stellar performance Friday, and one of three who scored points on the second day of competition.

Adding a day to remember was sophomore distance runner Nicole Reeves who earned All-NSIC honors with a top 3 finish in the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase as she crushed her own all-time best performance in the event and placed 3^rd in 11 minutes, 7.56 seconds – more than 18 seconds faster than her previous best and a performance that will be remembered at Minot State as the fastest ever as she broke the all-time record of 11:21.03 run by Samantha Huether in 2018.

"Nicole has been really good this year about her efficiency over the barriers and it is showing in the times she's producing," Coach Schultz said. "She had her eyes on the school record this whole year and I'm really excited for her in achieving that. Big things still to come from her for sure!"

Reeves finished third behind NSIC champion Eleni Lovgren of Augustana (10:58.11) and runner-up Mary Goodwin of Bemidji State (11:04.02).

While Hambira and Reeves brought home special honors, the Beavers also got a podium finish and points from senior thrower Samuel Kreins in the shot put as he placed 7^th in the event with a throw of 52 feet, 5.25 inches. Tyler Hiatt of Sioux Falls won the event with a mark of 57-7.

The points earned by Hambira and Kreins have the Minot State men sitting in 10^th place as a team with 12 points after seven of 21 scoring events. On the women's side, Reeves' performance scored the Minot State women 6 points as the Beaver ladies are 11^th through seven scored events.

And the Beavers are poised to add more to their score – and maybe a few more titles and All-NSIC honors after strong showings in several preliminary events Friday.

Another potential Minot State champion is hurdler Ramon Duran who clocked the second-fastest time in the prelims in the men's 400-meter hurdles with a time of 53.72 for a spot in Saturday's finals.

Also advancing to a final on the men's side are Peyton Tuhy and Devontae Daley who both advanced in the 800 meters as Tuhy clocked a prelim time of 1:57.52 and Daley a 1:59.03. Tuhy's time was fourth fastest on Friday and Daley ninth best.

On the women's side, both Sidra Sadowsky and De'Andre Cornwall raced their way into a spot in Saturday's finals as Sadowsky was 6^th fastest in the prelims in the 800 meters in 2:17.29 and Cornwall was 6^th fastest in the prelims in the 100-meter hurdles in 14.16.

Saturday's final day of competition gets underway at 11 a.m.