2026 Mike Becraft Invitational

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Hosted by Ohio Northern University
Saturday, April 17-18, 2026
Kerscher Stadium - Ada, Ohio

| 2026 Meet Information (.pdf) | Meet Schedule (.pdf) | HJ/PV Progressions (.pdf) | List of Sponsors (.pdf) |

| Live Results | Final Results (.pdf) |

Friday: Hammer and Javelin will begin at 3 pm at Bluffton University.
Saturday: Field events begin at 11 a.m. Running events begin at 12 p.m. Senior Day recognition begins at 9 a.m. indoors at the ONU Sports Center Fieldhouse.  

Participating Teams (Men and Women)

  • Ohio Northern
  • Bluffton
  • Manchester (Ind.)

Seating:

Seating will be limited - spectators are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for seating. 

Who is Mike Becraft?

Michael (Mike) Becraft (BA ’80) was an engineering student and legendary cross country and track & field athlete at Ohio Northern. During his time as a Polar Bear, Becraft set the ONU cross country school record, covering 8,000 meters in 24 minutes and 12 seconds, a record that still stands today, 43 years later. He also still holds school records in both the outdoor 5,000m run and the indoor 2-mile run.

A highly decorated athlete in ONU history, Becraft was a two-time Ohio Athletic Conference Cross Country Champion, two-time NCAA DIII Cross Country All-American (’77, ’78), and NCAA DIII Cross Country National Runner-Up (’98), the highest place ever taken by Ohio Northern in the Men’s NCAA XC Championship Meet. Becraft was inducted into the ONU Hall of Fame in 1994 for his impressive list of athletic accomplishments.

Somehow, perhaps even more impactful than his accolades during his time as a college athlete, were Becraft’s contributions to ONU athletics as an alum. Becraft continued to support the ONU XC and Track and Field programs through generous program donations and selfless athlete mentorship, quickly becoming one of the best and most consistent supporters in program history. Ian McVey (BSME ’19), who missed Becraft’s outdoor 5,000m school record by less than two seconds, was particularly impacted by Becraft’s sage perspectives.

“Over the short few years I knew Mike I could tell he had a lot of compassion and care for the program,” McVey said. “Mike once told me that even if a guy was faster than me, I was going to give him my best shot and let him know who I was. Those words inspired me to chase [Becraft’s] records and prove to him who I was for as much as he supported and believed in me. Mike was a family person, and all of us at ONU were part of what I think he would call his family.” 

Becraft lost his long-time battle with cancer last November. ONU Track & Field has instated the inaugural 2021 Mike Becraft Invitational in his honor.