Last Updated on July 13, 2026 5:28 pm
LINVILLE, N.C. — At the 70th-annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 2026, two track and field athletes secured the Outstanding Men's Athlete and Outstanding Women's Athlete honors. Jake McMillan from Madison, Miss., and Naomi Robins from Gilmer, Texas, earned the respective titles.
McMillan is a decathlete for Mississippi Christian University, and Robins runs for the Gilmer High School track team. Both athletes hope to return to the games next year.
McMillan secured top scores in the men's long jump, triple jump and 220-yard dash — along with a second-place score in the 100-yard dash. Robins placed first in the women's long jump and triple jump, along with second-place scores in the 100- and 220-yard dashes.
McMillan impressed in speed and jumps with a 19′ 10 ¾” long jump and :24.03 finish in the 220-yard dash. The 19-year-old has been attending the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games since he was a young child and has previously won kilted races and wrestling competitions. His favorite part of competing in decathlons is the variety of events, which he enjoys at the Highland Games as well.
“I really did not think that I would win,” McMillan said. “I just came out here for the love of it, and I'm just excited I was able to do it.”
Alongside McMillan in the men's events, James McAlister of New Haven, Conn., thrived at the distance events, placing first in the 880-yard dash and 2-mile run. Last year's outstanding men's athlete, Nick Goard of Aberdeen, N.C., placed second in the long jump and 1-mile run and third in the triple jump and 100-yard dash.
Robins excelled in jumps with a 16′ 1″ long jump and 33′ 5″ triple jump. This is Robins' first appearance at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. The 15-year-old has been competing with her school's track team for two years, and her favorite part of the sport is setting and beating personal records.
“I don't care if I win or lose — I just want to at least try my best,” Robins said. “I have to just believe in myself.”
Alongside Robins in the women's events, Taylor Walker of Murfreesboro, Tenn., achieved third-place scores in the 100-yard dash, as well as the men's and women's 1- and 2-mile runs. Last year's outstanding women's athlete, Veronica Cheechov of West End, N.C., placed second in the long jump and triple jump and third in the 220-yard dash.
For participating athletes, the Highland Games offer a chance to display their talents at a culturally significant event that has been in place at Grandfather Mountain's MacRae Meadows for several decades.
“It's such a different environment than you would see anywhere else,” McMillan said. “The environment, the people, the food, everything. It's just very fun out here.”
The 2026 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games took place July 9-12 at Grandfather Mountain's MacRae Meadows in Linville, N.C. To learn more about the Highland Games, visit www.gmhg.org.
Track and Field Results
Most Outstanding Men's Athlete: Jake McMillan, Madison, Miss.
Most Outstanding Women's Athlete: Naomi Robins, Gilmer, Texas
Men's Triple Jump
- Jake McMillan, Madison, Miss., 38′ 10 ¾”
- Keegan McCready, Lexington, N.C., 37′ ¼”
- Nick Goard, Aberdeen, N.C., 35′ 7 ¼”
Women's Triple Jump
- Naomi Robins, Gilmer, Texas, 33′ 5″
- Veronica Cheechov, West End, N.C., 28′ ¾”
- Natalie Nameth, Thomasville, N.C., 25′ 3 ½”
Men's Long Jump
- Jake McMillan, Madison, Miss., 19′ 10 ¾”
- Nick Goard, Aberdeen, N.C., 17′ 11″
- Michael Massur, Columbus, N.C., 16′ 1″
Women's Long Jump
- Naomi Robins, Gilmer, Texas, 16′ 1″
- Veronica Cheechov, West End, N.C., 11′ 7 ¼”
- Natalie Nameth, Thomasville, N.C., 11′ 3″
Men's 100-Yard Dash
- Michael Massur, Columbus, N.C., :10.64
- Jake McMillan, Madison, Miss., :10.87
- Nick Goard, Aberdeen, N.C., :11.10
Women's 100-Yard Dash
- Avah Roberts, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., :12.15
- Naomi Robins, Gilmer, Texas, :12.46
- Taylor Walker, Murfreesboro, Tenn., :14.10
Men's 220-Yard Dash
- Jake McMillan, Madison, Miss., :24.03
- Michael Massur, Columbus, N.C., :25.65
- Lee Bradley, Charlotte, N.C., :28.2
Women's 220-Yard Dash
- Avah Roberts, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., :29.17
- Naomi Robins, Gilmer, Texas, :30.2
- Veronica Cheechov, West End, N.C., :32.25
Men's and Women's 440-Yard Dash
- Simon Jeffries, Raleigh, N.C., 1:00.85
- Michael Massur, Columbus, N.C., 1:03
- Lucas Robins, Gilmer, Texas, 1:04
Men's 880-Yard Dash
- James McAlister, New Haven, Conn., 2:21
- Cayden McCready, Lexington, N.C., 2:41
- Matthew Edwards, Gilmer, Texas, 2:52
Men's and Women's 1-Mile Run
- Lucas Robins, Gilmer, Texas, 5:24
- Nick Goard, Aberdeen, N.C., 5:29
- Taylor Walker, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 5:53
Men's and Women's 2-Mile Run
- James McAlister, New Haven, Conn., 11:51
- Lucas Robins, Gilmer, Texas, 12:33
- Taylor Walker, Murfreesboro, Tenn., 13:21
