MARION, Indiana – In day one of the 2024 NAIA Outdoor National Championships Point Park had five of its members competing on the day. The Pioneers picked up one second place placement and four top 25 placements on the day.
MEN'S JAVELIN
For the third straight year Jakob Blatnik (Jr./ Slovenia) was named an NAIA-All American as the junior threw for 67.08 meters in his fourth attempt to be named the National Runner-Up in the men's javelin. This was the highest placement ever for Blatnik in Nationals as the last two years he placed third. Blatnik was only behind the reigning champion David Friedberg (Reinhardt University) who threw for 71.88 meters in his sixth attempt.
MEN'S 3000 METER STEEPLECHASE
In the Men's 300 Meter Steeplechase Jannik Windelband (Jr./ Germany) finished in the top 20 as the junior finished with a time of 9:31.54 to place 20th in the country. Windelband saw improvements from last year as he had previously competed in the NAIA Outdoor Nationals last year placing 26th in the country with a time of 10:08.
WOMEN'S 200 METER
In her first year as a member of the Point Park track & field team, Diamond Rush (Jr./ Detroit, Mich.) placed 22nd in the country in the Women's 200 Meter. Rush ran for a time of 24.45 to earn the top 25 placement in her first year as a Pioneer. Rush, who took home first at the RSC Outdoor Championships, beat her qualifying mark of 24.75 during the national race.
WOMEN'S 400M HURDLES
Making her way back to Nationals, Natalea Hillen (Sr./ McMurray, Pa.) placed 17th in the country in the Women's 400M Hurdles with a time of 1:04.95. Hillen currently holds the Point Park record in the Women's 400M Hurdles. Hillen will compete on day two in the Women's 100M Hurdles which is scheduled for 2:00 pm.
WOMEN'S LONG JUMP
Mya Greschner (So./ Pittsburgh, Pa.) finished the day as the highest placing female Pioneer as Greschner placed 15th in the country in the Women's Long Jump. During her first and second attempt Greschner jumped for 5.54 both times. Greschner has been a huge performer for Point Park this year as she tied for second in women's overall points in the RSC Outdoor Championships. At the RSC Outdoor Championships, Greschner set the River States Conference record for the long jump.
UP NEXT:
On day two of the 2024 NAIA Outdoor National Championships, Point Park will have five members competing in different events. At 2:00 pm Natalea Hillen will be competing in the Women's 100M Hurdles where she is will compete in heat #3. Following Hillen, Kanye Mills will race in the Men's 100M Hurdles scheduled for 2:15 pm. Akeem Mustpha will make his first national appearance at 2:30 where he will compete in the Men's Long Jump, followed by Ramiro Ulunque competing in the Men's 800 Meter scheduled for 2:50 pm. The final Pioneer to compete in day two will be Sophia Lee-Hauser who is competing in the Women's 5,000M Racewalk scheduled for 4:45 pm.
