Grace 4x800 Relay Team Repeats As NAIA All-Americans
May 26, 2023 at 8:54 p.m.
Grace 4x800 Relay Team Repeats As NAIA All-Americans
By Josh Neuhart-
After winning the indoor NAIA title in March, the impressive relay team of Tara Friesen, Anna Hulstedt, Heather Plastow and Kylie Sauder placed second in the nation on Thursday night at the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Championships.
They repeated as NAIA All-Americans with their time of 8:59.51. The mark also set a new school record, besting the previous mark by almost two seconds.
The same 4x800 crew placed third at the NAIA Outdoor Nationals last year en route to becoming Grace’s first NAIA outdoor All-Americans for the women.
Sauder also impressed four hours earlier in the 800 semifinals. She ran the fastest time in the field, breaking her own school record in the process at 2:09.82.
Hulstedt also raced in the 800, placing 19th in the nation with a time of 2:19.58.
In the men’s 800, Tanner Sallee raced in the semifinals; he placed 18th with his time of 1:55.02.
Brandon Kleber ran the 5,000 semifinals on Thursday night. He finished 25th in the field at 15:13.09.
The evening concluded with Grace’s women in the 4x400 relay semifinal. The group of Olivia Adkins, Jade Huley, Friesen, and Hulstedt finished the preliminary race in 26th place (4:03.39).
The Lancers will end their NAIA performance on Friday with three final events. Lanae Crowe will throw the discus (1 p.m.), Plastow will race in the 1,500 (2 p.m.), and Sauder will run the 800 finals (3:50 p.m.).
Tennis Trio Nab All-American Recognition
WINONA LAKE - Following a remarkable season, three members of Grace’s men’s tennis team achieved All-American status.
Javier Gallego and Facundo Paredes were named NAIA Second Team All-American. David Sandi was named Second Team Academic All-America by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).
Gallego and Paredes become the first duo to earn NAIA All-American status in the same year. They are the third and fourth NAIA All-Americans for the Lancers since 2015 (Daniel Sanchez, HM, 2015; Max Rozas, 2nd, 2021).
Gallego shined for the Lancers; he boasted an overall record of 40-7, including 21-3 at singles. He won the most singles’ matches in a season in team history, and he tied for the most doubles’ wins in team history (19).
Paredes had a 33-13 record for the season. His 19 singles’ wins were the second-most in program history.
Sandi’s Academic All-America honor was voted on by the CSC. The CSC recognizes outstanding student-athletes based on athletic and academic accomplishments. Sandi finished the season with a 7-5 mark while battling injuries. He wrapped up his impressive Lancer career with 34 singles’ wins (No. 6 all-time).
The Lancers ended their season with a sterling record of 22-6. The Lancers won the Crossroads League regular season championship and postseason tournament during the fall, earning their third trip to the NAIA tournament in team history.
After winning the indoor NAIA title in March, the impressive relay team of Tara Friesen, Anna Hulstedt, Heather Plastow and Kylie Sauder placed second in the nation on Thursday night at the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Championships.
They repeated as NAIA All-Americans with their time of 8:59.51. The mark also set a new school record, besting the previous mark by almost two seconds.
The same 4x800 crew placed third at the NAIA Outdoor Nationals last year en route to becoming Grace’s first NAIA outdoor All-Americans for the women.
Sauder also impressed four hours earlier in the 800 semifinals. She ran the fastest time in the field, breaking her own school record in the process at 2:09.82.
Hulstedt also raced in the 800, placing 19th in the nation with a time of 2:19.58.
In the men’s 800, Tanner Sallee raced in the semifinals; he placed 18th with his time of 1:55.02.
Brandon Kleber ran the 5,000 semifinals on Thursday night. He finished 25th in the field at 15:13.09.
The evening concluded with Grace’s women in the 4x400 relay semifinal. The group of Olivia Adkins, Jade Huley, Friesen, and Hulstedt finished the preliminary race in 26th place (4:03.39).
The Lancers will end their NAIA performance on Friday with three final events. Lanae Crowe will throw the discus (1 p.m.), Plastow will race in the 1,500 (2 p.m.), and Sauder will run the 800 finals (3:50 p.m.).
Tennis Trio Nab All-American Recognition
WINONA LAKE - Following a remarkable season, three members of Grace’s men’s tennis team achieved All-American status.
Javier Gallego and Facundo Paredes were named NAIA Second Team All-American. David Sandi was named Second Team Academic All-America by the College Sports Communicators (CSC).
Gallego and Paredes become the first duo to earn NAIA All-American status in the same year. They are the third and fourth NAIA All-Americans for the Lancers since 2015 (Daniel Sanchez, HM, 2015; Max Rozas, 2nd, 2021).
Gallego shined for the Lancers; he boasted an overall record of 40-7, including 21-3 at singles. He won the most singles’ matches in a season in team history, and he tied for the most doubles’ wins in team history (19).
Paredes had a 33-13 record for the season. His 19 singles’ wins were the second-most in program history.
Sandi’s Academic All-America honor was voted on by the CSC. The CSC recognizes outstanding student-athletes based on athletic and academic accomplishments. Sandi finished the season with a 7-5 mark while battling injuries. He wrapped up his impressive Lancer career with 34 singles’ wins (No. 6 all-time).
The Lancers ended their season with a sterling record of 22-6. The Lancers won the Crossroads League regular season championship and postseason tournament during the fall, earning their third trip to the NAIA tournament in team history.
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