GENEVA, Ohio–Bluffton University's Desmond Gist (Detroit, Mich./Trenton) capped off his record-setting sophomore campaign with a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Nationals on Friday, May 27, 2022. His 14.69 was just 11 hundredths of a second from moving him into the Saturday finals at the Spire Institute.

Proving that his national berth was no fluke, Gist jumped up to 14th place after entering the race seeded at number 20 in the country. He earned that slot just over a week ago when he shattered the Bluffton school record with a blazing 14.46 at the Mount Union Last Chance Meet on Thursday, May 19.

Head Coach Ben Markison had this to say about Gist's performance at the national championships, "I think Desmond learned a lot from competing this past Friday at the national meet. He now better understands what it requires to compete with the best Division III has to offer. That atmosphere was unlike any other meet he has competed at." Markison continued, "That alone is something that can motivate him to get back to that meet each and every year. Our goal for next year is to qualify for both indoor and outdoor. Desmond showed tremendous progress this year and I have no doubt that trend will continue into next season."

Gist will head north for some well-deserved rest and recovery after a 2022 season that saw him win four HCAC titles and set two school records while being named the HCAC Indoor Track and Field Jumps Athlete of the Year. He was also the winner of the 2021-22 Outstanding Male Athlete at the inaugural Beaver Dam Awards as voted by the Bluffton coaches. Gist was Bluffton's nomination for the HCAC Male Athlete of the Year as well.