Lincoln Bainbridge, one of the most decorated track and field athletes in Van Buren County history, has committed to the University of Northern Iowa to continue his running career at the NCAA Division I level.
The announcement comes on the heels of one of the most remarkable state meet performances in Class 1A history. Bainbridge went four-for-four at the Iowa State Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, winning four state championships across all three days and breaking seven school records throughout the 2026 season — leaving a legacy at Van Buren County that will be difficult to match for years to come.
At the state meet, Bainbridge opened Thursday by winning the 400 meter dash in a personal best of 48.08 seconds — the sixth fastest time in the state this year — pulling away from English Valleys’ Braydon Anderson by well over a full second. Friday, he anchored the distance medley relay team of Jace Duncan, Jaren Troxel, and Kayden Simmons to a time of 3:30.11, a new state meet record and the first relay championship in Van Buren County track and field history. Saturday, he won the 800 meter run in 1:53.76 before closing out the meet by anchoring the 4×400 relay team of Kayden Simmons, Jaren Troxel, and Jace Duncan from fifth place in the prelims to first in the finals, crossing in a season best 3:22.50 to claim the second relay championship in school history. Four events entered. Four state championships.
Earlier in the season, Bainbridge announced himself on the bigger stage at the Drake Relays, where he turned in a standout three-event weekend at Drake Stadium. He opened Friday with a runner-up finish in the 800 meter run, crossing in 1:52.25 — less than a second behind Cedar Falls’ Brennen Hoyer, who won in 1:51.94. Later that same evening, he returned to finish fifth in the 400 meter dash in 48.32. He capped the weekend Saturday with an eighth-place finish in the 400 meter hurdles in 53.27 — a strong showing that put him on the radar of college programs and set the recruiting process in motion.
Bainbridge said the process began to gain momentum following the Drake Relays, where he reached out to several programs. Prior to that, he had been committed to Indian Hills Community College — but his standout three-event performance at Drake opened the door to Division I interest and changed the trajectory of his recruiting process entirely. “UNI was one of them that reached back out to me,” he said. “I was drawn to the program for multiple reasons — the goals, the facilities, and the coaches.” After visiting several Missouri Valley Conference schools and comparing what each had to offer, UNI stood out as the right fit. “I visited a couple Missouri Valley schools and compared them to one another and ultimately decided on UNI,” he said.
A big part of the decision came down to the people. After multiple conversations with head coach Dave Paulsen and meeting other members of the coaching staff, Bainbridge said he felt at home. “I enjoyed their personalities and their goals, and what drew me to the program’s culture was how they operated as a team — not only on the track but also off the track, and how they were just very close,” he said.
UNI is a program with a strong track record in the Missouri Valley Conference, known for its blend of competitive success, exceptional academic achievement, and strong support infrastructure for its student-athletes. The Panthers recently demonstrated their continued strength at the Missouri Valley Conference Outdoor Championships, finishing second with 153 points behind Illinois State’s 179.5.
At the college level, Bainbridge expects to focus on the 800 meter run and potentially relays, though he said the final decision will come down to what best fits him at that level — ultimately up to the coaching staff. He is currently undecided on a field of study.
His goals for the first season are straightforward but ambitious. “My goals heading into my first college season would be to contribute to the team and help them bring back a Missouri Valley championship, but also to score some points in the conference as a freshman,” he said.
Bainbridge said his experience competing at Drake Stadium and the state meet gave him a preview of what competing at the next level will feel like. “The competition I ran at Drake had multiple Division I athletes, and at state it was the bigger crowds and the high competition,” he said. “I think those experiences prepared me for the next level.”
He also took a moment to express his gratitude to the Van Buren County community that has followed and supported him throughout his career. “The support is something I am forever grateful for, and I cannot have done it without the community behind my back,” Bainbridge said. “Especially to the people that came to every track meet and came out and supported — I want to give a huge thank you.”
Head coach Mike Bainbridge said watching his athlete reach this milestone has been deeply rewarding. “I’m just so happy for him. To see his hard work pay off is incredible — all the miles, all the early mornings, all the summer workouts, year after year, led to this moment,” he said. “He had big goals, but what separated him was his commitment to them. He was willing to do the work day after day, and it’s great to see him rewarded for that dedication.”
Coach Bainbridge acknowledged that the path to this point was not without its challenges. “He had some ups and downs throughout the recruiting process, but we’re thrilled with how everything worked out. Ending up at the University of Northern Iowa is a great opportunity for him, and I think it’s a place where he’ll fit in really well.”
