Trojans Poised to Compete at NAIA Indoor National Championships
Taylor Women's Indoor TF NAIA Championships Central | Taylor Men's Indoor TF NAIA Championships Central
UPLAND, Ind. – Fresh off third place team finishes for the men's and women's teams at the Crossroads League Indoor Championships and a pair of top-15 NAIA rankings, the Taylor track program brings a wave of momentum into the NAIA Indoor National Championships on March 5 through 7 in Gainesville, Florida.
Taylor is expected to have 18 student-athletes competing in 10 events over the course of the three-day meet. The TU women enter ranked No. 11 and will have 10 athletes competing in six events, while the No. 14-ranked Trojan men will have eight athletes competing in four events.
The women's team enters the stage at Nationals with a top-10 seed in four different events, led by Jaynie Halterman being ranked No. 1 in the 5,000-meters and the distance-medley relay team of Nicole Braz Domene, Emersyn Funk, Halterman and Malarie Pinwar being ranked No. 4. TU's 4x800-meter relay group of Noel Bass, Catey Campbell, Addie Draper and Marlina Howell enter ranked No. 9, as well as Kiana Siefert being ranked No. 9 in the 60-meter hurdles.
On the men's side, the Trojans rank the strongest in the 3,000-meters, with Nathan Burns seeded No. 2 in the event, followed by Ryan Hanak at No. 8 and Luke Harber at No. 14. Josh Forbes will take a No. 7 rank in the pole vault, with the distance-medley relay group of Burns, Wade Jones, Joel Mumaw and Bryce Noble seeded No. 4.
Any individual or relay finishing among the top-eight at NAIA Nationals will automatically receive NAIA All-American honors, in addition to scoring points for the team standings.
TU is set to open its showing at Nationals on Thursday, March 5 at 2:45 pm when the women's 4x800 relay takes the track, with the women's DMR following at 4:45 pm and the men's DMR racing at 5:45 pm.
Fans can access links to the free NAIA webcast, live stats, full meet schedule and more by visiting the Taylor Indoor Track and Field National Championships Centrals at the links listed above.
Taylor Women's Qualifiers and Seed
5K: Jaynie Halterman (1), Sam Patterson (22)
DMR: Nicole Braz Domene, Emersyn Funk, Jaynie Halterman, Malarie Pinwar (4)
4x800: Noel Bass, Catey Campbell, Addie Draper, Marlina Howell (9)
60H: Kiana Siefert (9)
Mile: Malarie Pinwar (13)
LJ: Kiana Siefert (19)
Taylor Men's Qualifers and Seed
3K: Nathan Burns (2), Ryan Hanak (8), Luke Harber (14)
DMR: Nathan Burns, Wade Jones, Joel Mumaw, Bryce Noble (4)
PV: Josh Forbes (7)
Mile: Joel Mumaw (14), Jared Stayte (20)