Halterman’s 5,000-Meter Title Headlines Final Day at NAIA Nationals

Taylor Women's Indoor TF NAIA Championships Central

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jaynie Halterman picked up her sixth individual NAIA National Championship on Saturday by defending her title in the indoor 5,000-meters in dominant fashion and the Trojans picked up 13 points on the day to finish in 26th in the team standings.

Halterman added to her already extensive collegiate resume by breaking her own NAIA, Alachua County Sports and Events Center and Taylor record in the indoor 5,000-meters with a blistering time of 15:52.27 to clear her previous mark by eight seconds. Halterman left no doubt, easily pulling away from the pack and lapping all but the runner-up finisher, who she defeated by 32 seconds.

Minutes after her historic record-setting performance in the 5,000-meters, Halterman regrouped and returned to the track to anchor the distance-medley relay for the Purple and Gray. Halterman was joined by Malarie Pinwar, Nicole Braz Domene and Addie Draper, as the group posted a sixth-place time of 11:55.12 to earn NAIA All-American honors and collect three more team points.

Pinwar opened the day for Taylor with a strong showing in the mile, narrowly missing another All-American finish by taking ninth in the race with a time of 5:01.24.

Sam Patterson also took the track on Saturday, joining Halterman in the 5,000-meters and turning in her best time of the season at 17:45.22 to finish in 12th.

With the 10 points from Halterman's title in the 5,000-meters and the three points from the DMR, Taylor ended the NAIA National Championships with 13 points for a 26th-place finish in the team standings.

At the conclusion of the event, Halterman was named the Outstanding Performer of the NAIA Women's Indoor Track and Field National Championships.

Taylor will now turn its attention to the outdoor campaign, which is set to begin on March 20 and 21 at the Indiana Wesleyan Polar Bear Invite.