College athletes from Columbus excel across sports

From swimming to track and field, local stars shine on the national stage

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A roundup of recent achievements by college athletes from Columbus, Indiana, including Keaton Stephenson winning a conference swimming title, Matt Newell running a sub-4-minute mile, and several others posting strong performances in track and field, softball, and other sports.

Why it matters

These stories highlight the impressive athletic talent coming out of Columbus, a relatively small Midwestern city, and showcase the hard work and dedication of local student-athletes competing at the collegiate level across the country.

The details

Keaton Stephenson, a freshman at Franklin College, was named Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Meet after winning the 200-yard freestyle and contributing to relay team victories. Matt Newell, a senior at Columbus North High School now running for Navy, broke the 4-minute mile barrier. Several other Columbus natives competing for various colleges and universities also had standout performances, including Anthony Lloyd winning the high jump, Emma Gray placing second in the 60-meter hurdles, and Maddi Rutan excelling on the softball diamond for Tennessee.

  • Stephenson's victories came at the HCAC Championships on February 12-15, 2026.
  • Newell ran his sub-4-minute mile on February 14, 2026 at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston.
  • The DePauw Invitational track and field meet took place on February 15, 2026.
  • The Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational softball tournament was held February 10-12, 2026.
  • The NAIA Leadoff Classic softball tournament was on February 17-19, 2026.

The players

Keaton Stephenson

A freshman swimmer at Franklin College who won the 200-yard freestyle and contributed to relay team victories at the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference Championships.

Matt Newell

A senior at Columbus North High School now running track for Navy, who broke the 4-minute mile barrier at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational.

Anthony Lloyd

A senior at Hanover College from Columbus East High School who won the men's high jump at the DePauw Invitational track and field meet.

Maddi Rutan

A junior softball player at the University of Tennessee from Columbus North High School who had a strong performance at the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational.

Kenzie Foster

A junior softball player at the University of Wisconsin from Columbus East High School who had a hit and a run scored in a win against Iowa State.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

These stories showcase the impressive athletic talent coming out of Columbus, Indiana, a relatively small Midwestern city, and highlight the hard work and dedication of local student-athletes competing at the collegiate level across the country in a variety of sports.