Many of these honored athletes and coaches are headed to the
2021 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships next week in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Men’s Track Athlete of the Year
GREAT LAKES REGION – Tony Floyd – Madonna (Mich.)
Floyd, a senior from Westland, Michigan, is ranked first nationally in the 5000 at 14:24.32 and second nationally in the 10,000 at 30:06.89. He completed the distance sweep at the WHAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, winning the 5000 and 10,000.
MIDWEST REGION – Matthew Van Eps – Dordt (Iowa)
Van Eps, a senior from Prinsburg, Minnesota, is ranked second nationally in the 800 at 1:49.59 and is undefeated in that event, including a victory at the Drake Relays. He completed the 800-1500 sweep at the GPAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships and has 15 total first-place finishes this season.
Josie Puelz in the pole vault (3.95m/12-11½),
Adrianna Shaw in the shot put (14.27m/46-10),
Erin Painter in the discus (48.75m/159-11) and
Elizabeth Stottlemyre in the javelin (45.13m/148-1). Shaw also has a pair of No. 2 rankings in the discus (46.03m/151-0) and hammer throw (54.00m/177-2). What’s even more impressive for the Bulldogs is that they have six of the top-10 nationally ranked marks in the discus.
Southeastern (Fla.) comes in at No. 2 for another week and claimed five top-10 nationally ranked efforts from five different athletes at the Spikes Classic:
Jaqual Bush in the 100 (No. 6, 11.93);