Talbi, a redshirt sophomore from Tighassoaline, Khenifra, Morocco, starred at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Yankton, South Dakota. First, Talbi broke a 22-year-old meet record in the 5000 with his 13:44.13 winner, a solo effort in which he won by more than 53 seconds. Then, Talbi returned to the track less than 30 minutes later to anchor Oklahoma City to a DMR crown. Talbi entered the meet ranked first nationally in the 3000 and third nationally in the 5000, the event in which he won and set the meet record.