The Men’s and Women’s Track teams found success at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletic (NAIA) Nationals from Feb. 27 to March 1 in Gainesville, Florida, with the Women’s team finishing second and the Men’s team finishing third. Three Doane students were also recognized as national champions in their events.
Starting with the Men’s 600m was junior Joaquin Gutierrez, who finished ninth with a time of 1:19.99. Running in the mile was junior Michael Grigsby, who had a time of 4:11.08, which placed him sixth.
Running over the hurdles was senior Zach Turner, who walked away as a National Champion in the 60m Hurdles. Competing in the 4×400 were Gutierrez, junior Caleb Mulder, freshman Andrew Brown and Turner, who finished with a time of 3:10.44, placing them second.
Placing 11th in the distance medley were freshman Porter Bickley, senior Jadae Moore, junior Emmanuel Yego and Grigsby, who finished with a time of 10:05.93.
Jumping in the high jump was senior Carter Reckling, who had a mark of 2.06m, which placed him sixth. Senior Dylan Starr placed seventh with the same mark. Placing 19th in the long jump was sophomore Brian Cech, who had a mark of 6.53m. Cech also jumped in the triple, where he had a mark of 14.34m, which placed him 14th. Also jumping in the triple was freshman Kyler Nichols, who had a mark of 14.25m, which placed him 15th.
Throwing in the shot put was junior Cale Bessler, who had a mark of 15.64m, which placed him 17th. Also throwing in the shot put was junior Andrew Schmitz, who had a mark of 15.22m, which placed him 24th.
Placing second in the weight throw was senior Trey Dickey, who had a mark of 20.08m. Schmitz, who had a mark of 18.82m, placed fourth. In the same event, placing 14th was sophomore Jaden Vollenweider, who had a mark of 17.43m.
Finishing up for the Men’s side were sophomores Addison Croghan and Andrew Harms. Croghan placed 13th with 4,776 and Harms placed 14th with 4,700.
Switching over to the women’s side, starting off in the 60m was sophomore Neryah Hekl, who walked away with fourth with a time of 7.48m. Running in the 400m was junior Kat Vogt, who had a time of 55.73, which placed her fourth as well.
Placing second in the 600m was junior Danie Parriott, who had a time of 1:32.28. Running over the hurdles was junior Josie Garrett, who had a time of 8.89, which placed her 19th.
Competing in the 4×400 were Vogt, sophomores Chaney Nelson and Kiley Hejtmanek, and Parriott, who had a time of 3:50.49, which placed them sixth.
Jumping in the high jump was freshman Katelynn Kratz, who had a mark of 1.60m, which placed her 13th. Walking away as a national champion in the pole vault was sophomore Kaylee Pribyl, who had a mark of 4.05m. Also competing in the pole vault was junior Kennedy Stanley, who had a mark of 3.75m, placing her seventh.
Placing 11th in the triple jump was junior Rosalyn Roggasch, who had a mark of 11.68m. Garrett, who had a mark of 11.64m, placed 13th. Also competing in the triple was junior Kyla Davis, who had a mark of 11.21m, which placed her 19th.
Throwing the shot put was senior Alivia Baucom, who had a mark of 14.06m, which placed her fifth. Senior Madison Sutton, who had a mark of 13.47m, placed 12th. And finishing up in the shot put was freshman Madison Heusinkvelt, who had a mark of 12.48m, which placed her 15th.
Becoming a national champion in the weight throw was Sutton, who had a mark of 19.40m. Also in the weight throw were junior Mia Knigge and sophomore Kaylie Lotspeich. Knigge had a mark of 17.44m, which placed her eighth, and Lotspeich had a mark of 16.26m, which placed her 11th.
This concludes the Indoor Track and Field season with the Outdoor Track and Field season to begin on March 29 in Kearney, Nebraska.
