Doane (Neb.) actually strengthened its hold at the top of the National TFRI. The Tigers are clearly a favorite for the title on that basis, let alone having the most entries in the meet – 24 in individual events plus a pair of relays.
Field events are where Doane is slated to make the most noise, with leaders in the both high jump with Jacob Heitkamp and the decathlon with Levi Sudbeck, who won the heptathlon in the NAIA Indoor meet in March. Four other field-eventers are among the top-4 ranked athletes in the meet.
Doane has never won this meet, but finished as runner-up in 2011.
The NAIA National Office announced its National Athlete of the Week selections for outdoor track & field on Wednesday.
Dylan Felger of Huntington (Ind.) was named Men’s Track Athlete of the Week after winning the 400H at the Warrior Opener in an NAIA-leading 52.79.
Bryan Terry of College of Idaho was named Men’s Field Athlete of the Week after winning three throwing events at the Grand View Invitational. Terry captured top honors in the discus, hammer and shot put with marks of 46.34m (152-0), 53.40m (175-2) and 15.40m (50-6¼), respectively.
Jakarri Alven of Aquinas (Mich.) was named Women’s Track Athlete of the Week after winning the 400 at the Warrior Opener in an NAIA-leading 55.64. That mark also broke a 14-year-old program record by more than one second.