BROOKINGS, S.D. - Grace's track and field teams are competing this week at the 2023 NAIA Indoor National Championships in South Dakota.
Read below for the daily recaps as the Lancers square off against the best from across the country.
Follow along with live video and live results.
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DAY THREE - Saturday (Lancers add three All-American events during final day)
Grace's track and field squad picked up three more All-American events to close out a memorable week at the 2023 NAIA Indoor National Championships on Saturday.
Grace's men and women each placed 15th in the nation; it marks Grace's highest finish ever at the NAIA Indoor National Championships.
Heather Plastow, one of the most decorated athletes in Grace track history, began the day on a high note. She produced an All-American performance in the finals of the mile, placing seventh with a time of 5:00.60.
Four hours later, Plastow took to the track again with her teammates to compete in the distance medley relay. The foursome of Anna Hulstedt, Olivia Adkins, Kylie Sauder and Plastow ran to a sixth-place time of 11:59.83, another All-American performance for Grace's relays.
The men closed out the Lancers' appearance at NAIA in the DMR. The quartet of Bryan Hernandez-Rios, Tanner Sallee, Logan Rufenacht and Dimitri Margaritidis picked up their second All-American medal in as many days. After winning the title in the 4x800-meter relay on Friday, the group added a national runner-up status in the DMR with a time of 9:59.70.
The group finishes the meet with the school's first national championship-winning event (4x800) and the second national runner-up performance (joining Isaac Brown's high jump in 2020).
Grace's men's DMR has placed sixth in 2021, fourth in 2022 and now second in 2023.
On the women's side, the Lady Lancers had two NAIA Indoor All-American performances in its history. They leave the meet with three this week alone.
The women also earned their first national championship event during the week with Friday's win in the 4x800.
Plastow has a part in four of the program's five All-American honors, including two mile performances and two relays.
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DAY TWO - Friday (Grace wins historic golds at NAIA Nationals)
Friday was a historic day for Grace's track and field team. The Lancers ended the day with two NAIA national championship-winning events — the first two in team history.
Grace swept the 4x800-meter relays to highlight the day.
"We are so proud of this crew. This has been the summation of what they have been talking about for years. They have persevered, believed in each other and supported each other for several seasons, which has been wonderful to witness. It's been fun to celebrate them and watch them give the glory back to God," said Grace head coach Jake Poyner.
The women recorded the first gold-medal moment. Anna Hulstedt, Tara Friesen, Heather Plastow and Kylie Sauder broke the tape in 9:05.60. Their time smashed their previous school record — set the day before in the preliminary race — by 11 seconds. It also marked a facility record at Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex, home of South Dakota State University. WATCH THE WOMEN'S 4X800
The men made it a clean sweep in the event just a few minutes later. Bryan Hernandez-Rios, Dimitri Margaritidis, Tanner Sallee and Logan Rufenacht edged out their closest competitor by two seconds, winning gold with a time of 7:33.70. Their time also set a school record and a facility record. WATCH THE MEN'S 4X800
"Some of our seniors gave up individual events to pursue these relays," Poyner said. "Their belief in each other to sacrifice individual events to have a shot at winning these relays has been really fun to see come to fruition."
Earlier in the day, Plastow also ran the prelims in the mile. She advanced to Saturday's finals after crossing the finish line in 5:00.43, the seventh-fastest time in the field.
The women recorded their third NAIA Indoor All-American event in team history with the 4x800 performance. Plastow has had a part in two of those awards (2021, mile).
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DAY ONE - Thursday (Grace kicks off competition at NAIAs)
The Lancers had a busy day to kick off the 2023 NAIA Nationals. Grace was represented in five events, including four relays. Incredibly, all four relay teams advanced to their respective finals and will race for gold.
Grace's day began with the prelims of the women's 5,000-meter run. Carmen Trier and Mallory Hiatt both qualified for the race. Hiatt crossed the finish line in 18:36.01, placing 30th in the nation. Trier was unable to finish.
Next up came the prelims for the 4x800 relays. On the women's side, Anna Hulstedt, Tara Friesen, Heather Plastow and Kylie Sauder ran the fastest time in the field. They crossed the finish line in 9:16.59, a mark which beat their previous school record time by six seconds.
The men's 4x800 squad also posted the best time in the prelims. Bryan Hernandez-Rios, Dimitri Margaritidis, Tanner Sallee and Logan Rufenacht broke the tape in 7:38.59.
Two hours later, many of the same relay members ran again in the distance medley relays. In the women's DMR, Hulstedt, Olivia Adkins, Plastow and Sauder ran the fifth-fastest time for the prelims at 11:54.99. Their mark set another school record.
The men's DMR punched their ticket to the finals with a time of 10:02.32. Hernandez-Rios, Margaritidis, Sallee and Rufenacht all raced again to close out an impressive day.
The four relays squads each earned a spot in the NAIA finals. The 4x800 relays are on Friday with the women racing at 5:20 p.m. and the men following at 5:35 p.m.
The DMR squads compete in the finals on Saturday; the women are at 4:20 p.m., and the men are at 4:40 p.m.
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