MARION, Ind. - For the second time this year, Grace's women's 4x800-meter relay team became NAIA All-Americans.

After winning the indoor NAIA title in March, the impressive relay team of Tara Friesen, Anna Hulstedt, Heather Plastow and Kylie Sauder placed second in the nation on Thursday night at the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Championships. 

They repeated as NAIA All-Americans with their time of 8:59.51. The mark also set a new school record, besting the previous mark by almost two seconds.

The same 4x800 crew placed third at the NAIA Outdoor Nationals last year en route to becoming Grace's first NAIA outdoor All-Americans for the women.

Sauder also impressed four hours earlier in the 800 semifinals. She ran the fastest time in the field, breaking her own school record in the process at 2:09.82.

Hulstedt also raced in the 800, placing 19th in the nation with a time of 2:19.58.

In the men's 800, Tanner Sallee raced in the semifinals; he placed 18th with his time of 1:55.02.

Brandon Kleber ran the 5,000 semifinals on Thursday night. He finished 25th in the field at 15:13.09.

The evening concluded with Grace's women in the 4x400 relay semifinal. The group of Olivia Adkins, Jade Huley, Friesen, and Hulstedt finished the preliminary race in 26th place (4:03.39).

The Lancers will end their NAIA performance on Friday with three final events. Lanae Crowe will throw the discus (1 p.m.), Plastow will race in the 1,500 (2 p.m.), and Sauder will run the 800 finals (3:50 p.m.).

DAY ONE RECAP