BROOKINGS, S.D. – The Grace College track and field team will take its largest group ever to the 2020 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships, held in Brookings, S.D., this week. The Lancers’ group of qualifiers includes 10 men and 6 women who will compete in a total of 13 events.

“This group of athletes has broken new ground and raised expectations for our entire program,” said head coach Jeff Raymond. “With nine sophomores and four freshmen among those qualified to compete this week, we are both thrilled by this year’s success and excited about the future.”

The athletes attending the national championships helped establish nine new indoor school records. They also propelled the Lancers to program-best third-place finishes in both men’s and women’s NCCAA Indoor Championships, and helped produce 15 All-Crossroads League performances.

Isaac Brown, a sophomore competing in the high jump, is the only Grace athlete who competed at last year’s indoor national meet. This year, the school record holder (at 6-foot-9.75) will travel with more than a dozen additional teammates.

In addition to Brown, the men’s team will have individual competitors in the 200-meter race (John Green), 400 meters (Dylan Felger), 800 meters (Kyle Smith) and 1000 meters (Isaac Beatty).

The Lancers are also qualified in the 4×800 relay and the distance medley relay. Relay runners include Felger, Beatty, Kyle Smith, Luke Smith, Dimitri Margaritidis, Logan Rufenacht, Korry Hamlin and Brady Willard.

The women’s team will feature a pair of competitors in the 200 meters (Nordia Campbell / Lyne Camara) and the 400 meters (Camara / Suzanne Sickafoose). Sophomore Heather Plastow will compete in the mile run.

The women also qualified in the 4×400 relay, with Camara, Campbell and Sickafoose being joined by Ashley Stoltzfus and/or Julia Malson.

Each of the three relays will compete in the preliminaries on Thursday. First round competition for individual events will be held on Friday. Finals for most events will be on Saturday.