BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Bethel College track & field team concluded their indoor season with the final day of the NAIA Indoor Championship on Saturday with another national champion performance and three more All-American performances. Emma Jankowski broke her less-than-24-hour-old-program-record in the 800m run with a title-winning 2:14.42, the first NAIA title in a track event in Bethel track & field program history, and second individual title by a Bethel athlete in the meet.
Jordan Downs earned his second All-American status of the meet in the pole vault, while the women’s distance medley relay of Emma Jankowski, Anna Nisen, Jessica Duvall, and Leah Gouwens earned All-American status with an eighth-place finish in the finals.
MEET VITALS
NAIA Indoor National Championship: Hosted by Dakota State University
Location: Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex | Brookings, S.D.
Finish: Men: 12th of 61 | Women: 24th of 58
NAIA National Track & Field Ratings Index: Men – No. 5 | Women – No. 15
NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Emma Jankowski | Women’s 800m | 2:14.42*
ALL-AMERICANS
Emma Jankowski | Women’s 800m | 1st, 2:14.42*
Women’s DMR | Emma Jankowski, Anna Nisen, Jessica Duvall, Leah Gouwens | 8th, 12:25.67
Jordan Downs | Men’s Pole Vault | 3rd, 5.00m
*Program record
OTHER COMPETITORS – WOMEN
High Jump | Jessica Tuttle | 16th, 1.57m
OTHER COMPETITORS – MEN
Pole Vault | Zach Harrah | 14th, 4.65m
THOUGHTS FROM COACH NATALI
“We feel we had a very good NAIA National meet these past three days with many solid performances. To be able to leave with multiple national champions and All-Americans is definitely special. This was a great way to cap off an amazing indoor season. Time for some rest and then we’ll be back at it getting ready for our outdoor season. Most importantly, our performances were just another way to use the gifts God has given all of us. Keeping Christ central in all we do in this program his foundational.”
UP NEXT
The Pilots will resume competition during the outdoor season beginning on March 23 at the Polar Bear Invitational in Marion, Indiana.
