Bethel Men win NCCAA Track and Field Title

CEDARVILLE, Ohio – The Bethel College Pilots men’s track and field team secured their third NCCAA Indoor National Championship, and ninth total for Bethel track, with a strong day two performance to finish atop the 14-team field, while the women finished fifth. Overall, men’s track garnered five individual national champions and 12 All-American performances while the women crowned one individual national champion and 14 All-American performances.

MEET VITALS

• NCCAA Indoor National Championships: Hosted by Cedarville University
• Standings: Men | 1^st of 15, 133 pts | Women | 5^th of 13, 57 pts
• Location: Doden Fieldhouse | Cedarville University | Cedarville, Ohio

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

• Kelsey Heitzman | Women’s Pole Vault | 3.34m
• Erik Escobedo | Men’s Weight Throw | 21.12m*
• Erik Escobedo | Men’s Shot Put | 16.17m
• Jamique Mitchell | Men’s 60m Dash | 6.94
• Jordan Downs | Men’s Long Jump | 7.23m
• Ezra Griffith | Men’s Hepthathlon | 4,595

*NCCAA Indoor Record

ALL-AMERICANS – WOMEN

• Kelsey Heitzman | Pole Vault, 1^st
• Mariah King | 4,000 DMR, 3^rd; 4x800m Relay, 2^nd
• Leah Gouwens | 4,000 DMR, 3^rd; 4x200m Relay, 3^rd
• Anna Nisen | 4,000m DMR, 3^rd; 4x800m Relay, 2^nd
• Jessica Duvall | 4,000m DMR, 3^rd; 4x800m Relay, 2^nd
• Emily Roth | 4x200m Relay, 3^rd
• Michaela Miller | 4x200m Relay, 3^rd
• Alexis Jackey | 4x200m Relay, 3^rd
• Vanessa Steiner | 4x800m Relay, 2^nd
• Keryn Lumpkin | Weight Throw, 3^rd

ALL-AMERICANS – MEN

• Erik Escobedo | Weight Throw, 1^st; Shot Put, 1^st
• Jonah Lester | High Jump, 2^nd
• Travis Sperry | 4x200m Relay, 2^nd
• Jordan Downs | 4x200m Relay, 2^nd; Pole Vault, 2^nd; Long Jump, 1^st
• Thomas Jackson | 4x200m Relay, 2^nd
• Jamique Mitchell | 4x200m Relay, 2^nd; 60m Dash, 1^st
• Cameron Kitson | 60m Hurdles, 3^rd
• Ezra Griffith | Heptathlon, 1^st

COACH NATALI SAYS

• “I couldn’t be more proud of this team. All the men and all the ladies did a great job. It’s an honor for our program to achieve its 9^th NCCAA national championship. I feel very blessed to be their coach. This has been a total team effort this weekend. God gets all the glory.”

NEXT TIME OUT

• The Pilots begin their quest for an NAIA Indoor National Championship March 1-3 in Pittsburg, Kansas, before beginning outdoor season on March 24.