Hillsdale College senior Ben Haas wrapped up a storied collegiate career in the weight throw on Friday in Virginia Beach in the only fitting way -- standing alone atop the podium as a repeat NCAA DII national champion in the indoor track and field event.

Haas broke his own school and G-MAC record with a winning throw of 22.97 meters to claim the weight throw crown at the 2026 NCAA DII Indoor National Championships. The title is a second straight in the event for Haas, who also claimed the 2025 title with a mark of 22.89 meters a year ago, and Haas' third NCAA DII national title including the 2025 NCAA DII outdoor hammer throw title last May.

In winning the crown, Haas becomes the first men's track and field athlete at Hillsdale College to repeat as NCAA DII champion in the same event in consecutive seasons, and the first to accomplish a national repeat since Jim McHugh won back-to-back NAIA titles in the high jump in 1993 and 1994. He also joins Hillsdale legend Paul Aufdemberge as the only three-time men's national champion in program history.

Haas came in as a heavy favorite to repeat, as the defending champion and the holder of the top mark in the nation in the event entering the competition. He seized control  of the competition quickly, moving into first place on his second throw with a mark of 22.53 meters that would have been good enough to win the title on its own. But Haas made sure he finished not just with another title, but with a reset of his own school and G-MAC records with a mark of 22.97 meters, ranking fourth all-time in NCAA DII history in the event, on his third attempt.

Haas wasn't alone on the podium this year, as redshirt freshman teammate Dominic Scharer capped a stellar season by finishing third behind his senior teammate in the weight throw and earning All-American honors for the first time. Scharer led the competition through the first round with an opening throw of 21.19 meters, and secured third place in the nation with a throw of 21.55 meters that tied Hillsdale Hall of Famer and past national champion Jason Stomps for the second-furthest weight throw mark in Hillsdale history. Finishing behind two redshirt seniors who are graduating this spring, Scharer not only brought home honors for himself on Friday but staked his claim as a contender for years to come in the event.

While Haas has competed in his final weight throw event at Hillsdale, the senior's indoor season isn't done just yet, as Haas will look to add more honors tomorrow at 2:45 p.m. in the shot put. Both Haas and Scharer have exciting outdoor seasons to look forward to as well, with Haas aiming to defend his crown in the hammer throw as well, and Scharer looking to make his mark in more throwing events outdoors.