GULF SHORES, Ala. – A group of 19 Lancer athletes will compete in 13 different events at the 2022 NAIA National Track and Field Championships this week in Gulf Shores, Ala. The three-day event is held at the Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium from Wednesday to Friday.
The Grace men's and women's squads have a wealth of experience as 13 qualified athletes have competed at previous NAIA outdoor meets. Ten have earned All-American status at either the indoor or outdoor championships.
Senior Isaac Brown will finish off his career contesting the unique double of the high jump and the javelin. Brown, the school-record holder in both events, enters the meet ranked fourth in the high jump.
Kyle Smith, another senior and multiple school-record holder, will run the 800-meter race and anchor the 4x800 relay. The relay, which will also includes a combination of Tanner Sallee, Logan Rufenacht, Isaac Beatty and Luke Smith, enters the meet with the second-fastest time.
Dimitri Margaritidis returns to run the 1,500 after placing fourth a year ago, the same spot he is currently ranked.
Bryan Hernandez-Rios will compete in the 5,000, where he is seeded eighth. Senior John Green takes to the track in the 200 dash.
The women will represent Grace in all three relay events, one of the few schools to qualify in the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 relays. Each foursome holds the Grace school record in the relay event.
The 4x800 relay enters the meet with the fourth-fastest time in the NAIA. The relay will include Tara Friesen, Anna Hulstedt, Heather Plastow and Kylie Sauder. The four women collectively are ranked as the top 800 event group in the NAIA with an average time of 2:16.59.
Sauder will also compete in the 800, where she is seeded ninth, while Plastow, a senior, is qualified in the 1,500.
Senior Nordia Campbell will compete in the sprint events, running a leg on the 4x100 relay and competing in the 200. Gracious O'Connor will join the relay and is seeded 12th in the 200.
Other athletes who could be part of the relays include Lyne Camara, Zoe Huley, Sara Lopez-Ochoa and Olivia Lugibihl.
Action during Wednesday's opening day includes preliminary rounds of the 4x100 and 4x800 relays, prelims in the 200 and 1,500, as well as trials and finals of the javelin.
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