Trojans Advance to Finals in 5,000-Meters and Distance-Medley Relay
TU Women's Track NAIA National Champs Central
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Taylor women's indoor track and field team opened its showing at the 2025 NAIA National Championships with strong performances in each of its Thursday events, advancing to Saturday's finals in both races.
Jaynie Halterman and Sam Patterson led things off by qualifying for the finals in the 5,000-meters. Halterman cruised to a time of 17:14.65 to top her heat with the best time of the prelims. Patterson also automatically qualified by finishing fourth in her heat and seventh overall at 17:24.35. The duo will race in Saturday's finals at 3:55 pm (ET).
TU's distance-medley relay squad of Nicole Domene, Emersyn Funk, Abby Mays and Noel VanderWall followed in the final event of the opening day, finishing third in the second heat and sixth overall to advance to Saturday's 4:40 pm final. The group posted a time of 12:03.21 for Taylor's fastest mark of the season.
While Halterman, Patterson and the DMR relay wait to return to action on Saturday, the Trojans will compete in three more events on Friday, with VanderWall in the mile prelims at 11:45 am, Kiana Siefert in the long jump finals at 1:00 pm and Mays in the 1,000-meters prelims at 3:45 pm.
