Grace Track: Lancers Strong At IWU Invite
MARION – The Grace College track and field team recorded its third straight NAIA qualifier to start the indoor season at the IWU Invitational on Saturday.
The men’s 4×800-meter relay team of Hunter Reed, Tyler Houvener, Nathan Lane and Sam Hall hit the NAIA “A” qualifying standard with a time of 7:54.84. They follow Isaac Stuckey and Jacob Brown as Lancers who will represent Grace at the NAIA Indoor Nationals.
Additionally, Paige Kindig and Raven Arellano both bettered their own school records on Saturday. Kindig cleared 10-feet-10 on the pole vault, beating her old mark by nearly five inches.
Arellano smashed her time in the 3,000 by 20 seconds. She finished second in the meet with a time of 10:47.24.
“There was some great competition this week, and we responded with some quality performances,” said Grace head coach Jeff Raymond. “The 4×800 relay started the day on a high note, Raven set her school mark in the 3,000 late in the day, and we had several personal bests set in between. It was a very full day for the Lancers.”
Other standouts include Karla Singer, who placed second in the mile and had an indoor PR in the 5,000 to finish sixth.
In the men’s 1,000, Hall and Houvener were third and fifth respectively, and Lane added a fourth-place showing in the mile.
Arellano, in addition to her school record in the 3,000, added a fourth-place finish in the women’s mile. Hannah Treadway also ended up fifth in the weight throw, and Katelyn Shaver was eighth in the shot put.
The Lancers will head to Upland next weekend for the Taylor Invitational.