2023 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field Championship – Day 2 Recap

BROOKINGS, S.D. – Five more national titles were crowned on the second day of the 2023 NAIA Women’s Indoor Track & Field National Championships Friday at Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex.  The 43rd annual running of the women’s indoor track & field national championships is hosted by Dakota State (S.D.).

• The day kicked off with four Columbia (S.C.) athletes capturing the top five spots in the 3000-meter racewalk, racking up 27 points to take an early lead.  The Koalas maintained the lead through the second day after six events were scored. 
• Izabelle Trefts became the first female athlete in Columbia’s school history to win the national indoor track & field individual title after clocking a time of 14 minutes, 31.74 seconds.
• Indiana Tech is second in the team standings with 21 points, followed by Siena Heights (Mich.) third with 17 points.  Hastings (Neb.) and Marian (Ind.) are tied for fourth with 16 points each. 
• Nine running semifinals event took place Friday.
• Two athletes from William Carey (Miss.) and three athletes from Indiana Tech secured a spot in the 60-meter hurdles national finals after placing in the top eight in the semifinals.
• Brianna Florvilus of Life (Ga.) edged 2022’s national champion holder Joy Abu of William Carey for the top time in the 400-meter dash semifinals.
• Life secured three runners in the 200-meter dash finals by placing three runners in the top six place in the semifinals.  Soyinne Grenyion of Indiana Tech clinched the top semifinal time in 23.87 seconds.
• Praise Idamadudu of Cumberland (Tenn.) earned second-place finishes in both the 60- (7.37 seconds) and 200-meter dashes (24.01 seconds) in Friday’s semifinals.
• Jena Hahlbeck of Park (Mo.) registered the top time in the 800-meter run semifinals.  Maggie Whitney of Aquinas (Mich.), the 2022 defending champion in 800-meter run, was third in 2:14.40.
• Grace (Ind.) wrapped up Friday’s running events by winning their first-ever women’s 4 x 800-meter relay title in program history.  The team of Anna Hulstedt, Tara Friesen, Heather Plastow, and Kylie Sauder finished with a time of 9 minutes, 5.60 seconds. 
• William Carey won the long jump title for the second time in the last three seasons.  Machaeda Linton leaped 6.14 meters (20 feet, 1.75 inches) to win the national title. 
• Hastings captured its first weight throw national title since 2018, when Jessa Eden threw 18.02 meters (59 feet, 1.5 inches).  Her teammate Kiara Anderson was third with 17.72 meters toss (59 feet, 1.75 inches).  Arriana Benjamin of Marina (Ind.) collected the runner-up honor with 17.81 meters throw (58 feet, 5.25 inches).
• The highlight on the second day saw freshman Addy Wiley of Huntington (Ind.) securing a spot in Saturday’s championship day in four different running events.  She was fourth in the 1-mile run, first in the 600-meter run, sixth in the 800-meter run, and eighth in the 3000-meter run during Friday’s semifinal action.
• The second day closed with Josie Puelz becoming the first 3-peat pole vault national title in Concordia (Neb.) program history.  She cleared the height of 3.97 meters (13 feet, .25 inches).

Fifteen national titles are on the line during Saturday’s Championship Day.  The final day of the three-day NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships begins with the triple jump at 10 a.m., followed by the shot put at 11:30 a.m.

The NAIA Championship Ceremonies are slated for 12 p.m. Saturday.  The awards ceremony after the conclusion of the meet is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. (CT).