Trojans Set Program Record on Day One of NAIA Nationals
TU Women's TF NAIA Championships Central
BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Taylor women's indoor track and field team opened its stay at the 2024 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships with a trio of preliminary events on Thursday. TU advanced to the finals in all three, while setting one new program record.
The day started with Audrey Brinkruff and Mollie Gamble taking the track in the 5,000-meters. Each athlete advanced to Saturday's finals by posting their second-fastest time of the year. Brinkruff opened by crossing in 17:33.95 to take third in her heat, just 1.3 seconds off the lead. Gamble followed, knowing the spot and time to beat in order to advance, and came in 10 seconds ahead of that mark at 17:40.50.
TU then turned its focus to its 4x800-meter relay and distance-medley relay, as each squad comfortably advanced into the finals. The 4x800 team of Emily Johnson, Kaitlin Burden, Abby Mays and Olivia Jeanette highlighted the day for the Trojans by setting a new program-record time of 9:15.34 to end seventh overall in the prelims.
Facing a quick turnaround, Mays and Johnson then teamed with Ashley Hall and Noel VanderWall in the distance-medley relay to finish fifth in the prelims and second in their heat with a season-best time of 12:06.61.
A full day of action awaits Taylor on Friday, with the 4x800-relay returning to race in the finals at 6:20 pm (ET). Prior to that event, TU will compete in the prelims of the mile, 60-meter hurdles, 400 and 3,000, with VanderWall, Patience Sakeuh, Hall and Ahna Neideck all seeking to advance into Saturday's finals.
Friday's slate will open at 1:00 pm (ET), with VanderWall racing in the mile.
