Owen Fremeau Takes Third in Weight Throw, Fourth in Shot Put at Nationals

By: Nadia Tijerina

Junior Owen Fremeau holding his two trophies he earned at the 2026 NCAA Dlll Indoor Track & Field Championships.

OLIVET, Mich. – After finishing 14th in shot put at last year’s indoor national meet, UO junior Owen Fremeau responded in a big way, earning two All-American honors in two events with a third-place finish in weight throw and a fourth-place finish in the shot put at the 2026 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships. 

Fremeau's performance showed great improvement from last season, when a foul in shot put pushed him to a 14th-place finish overall. This year, he capitalized on every opportunity. Not only earning two All-American honors, but becoming the first four-time All-American in school history and recording the highest finish ever by an Olivet thrower at indoor national championships. 

“It feels awesome I am not going to lie, I’ve been putting in a lot of work trying to reach distances and the placements are showing up now. It feels phenomenal knowing all my hard work is paying off,” said Fremeau. 

Freameau's performance in the weight throw showcased his hard work throughout the offseason early on. His first throw was 58 feet, ½ inch which placed him at 11th. He then fouled on his second attempt dropping him to 14th. With one throw left to possibly make the podium, Fremeau launches a 63-foot mark and secures a spot in third-place finish 

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Fremeau's last throw during the weight throw at the 2026 NCAA DIII Indoor Track & Field Championships recorded by Daustin Martin

“It was a little scary, you know because Owen had been so consistent all year in the weight throw, but he came over after his second throw and I said ‘Whatever it takes’ like this isn’t where we’re going to get all cute and try to get real technical, just go out and smack it and that is what he did,” said Daustin Martin, Olivet’s throws coach. 

Fremeau carried that momentum into the next day with the shot put. After a foul left him at 14th-place at last year’s championships, Freameau wanted to rewrite a different outcome. 

“I tried to not think about it too much, I’m pretty sure I was seeded higher last year and didn’t end up doing what I was supposed to do. This year, I was really confident in my consistency and it was showing all season,” said Fremeau. 

Fremeau opened up with a throw of 55 feet, 4 ¾ inches putting himself at a great position which was fourth-place. His second throw was even better but slipped to sixth-place with a throw of 56-feet, 3 ¼  inches. But Fremeau remained composed and had a great last throw to push him fourth-place overall. 

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Fremeau'd last throw for the shot put at the NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championships recorded by Daustin Martin

“I am beyond proud of Owen for not only getting third and fourth-place at nationals, but he scored enough points where we finished 15th in the nation as a team and that’s the highest finish ever,” said Karen Lutzke, Olivet’s track and field head coach.  

As the indoor season comes to a close, Fremeau shifts his mindset and goals for the upcoming outdoor season hoping to qualify in three events for the outdoor championships.