2025-26 CSC MEN'S TRACK & FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

ARDEN HILLS, MINN.—Bethel University senior Grant Nelson was named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Men's Track & Field/Cross Country Academic All-American Second Team. Nelson, who graduated with a 3.65 grade point average as a finance major, is just the third CSC Academic All-American in school history after Karl Olsen in 2018, and Taylor Ferda in 2009. 

Nelson closed the 2026 outdoor season with his second-straight NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track & Field 400 Meter Dash National Championship with a 45.76 on day three of outdoor nationals at UW-La Crosse's Veteran Memorial Stadium. Nelson's time is the third-fastest in NCAA Division III history.

He has given Bethel all four of their NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships in program history. The NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor 400 Meter Dash record is 44.66, achieved by Nelson's head coach, Andrew Rock (UW-La Crosse) in 2004. Nelson's national title gives Bethel nine Outdoor 400 Meter Dash All-America finishes in program history.

He engineered a Royals squad that finished the 2026 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field meet in ninth place with 19 points. Nelson's fourth-place time of 40.10 in the 4x100 meter relay, and fifth-place mark of 3:10.26 in the 4x400 meter relay at outdoor nationals earned him All-American First Team.

Nelson earned MIAC Outdoor Championships in the 200 meter dash (21.11), 400 meter dash (46.06), and 4x100 meter relay (40.74).

The indoor season saw Nelson finish as a national runner-up in the 400 meter dash with a 47.20.  At the MIAC Indoor Championship, Nelson earned titles in the 200 meter dash (21.91), 4x400 meter relay (3:18.48). 400 meter dash (48.75), and 4x200 meter relay (1:28.36).