MARION, Ind. - Josiah Kocis' long-awaited return to the NAIA Outdoor Track and National Field Championships led to a 23rd-place finish in the 10,000-meter run Wednesday night.

Kocis was in the top-20 for an extended stretch, but battling a cold, he hit a wall halfway through the race and wasn't able to recover, finishing with a time of 32:29.87.

Making matter more difficult was a persistent, sideways rainstorm that accompanied an unusually cold May evening where temperatures dipped into the 50s.

Since coming to Midway in 2021, Kocis has taken part in seven national races across track and field, cross country and the NAIA Marathon. This was his first appearance at the Outdoor National Championships since his freshman season.

He will return to the Eagles for the 2026 outdoor campaign after sitting out all of 2024 due to illness. He broke Midway's 10,000-meter record in his previous meet at the Lee Last Chance, crossing the finish line in 30:48.22.