Several members of the Harding University track team hosted a multi-meet for the heptathletes and decathletes and participated in the Indoor National Championship in Pittsburgh, Kansas, over spring break.
Sophomore Sierra White, Kinga Szarzynska, senior Austin Parrish, freshman Kylor Aguilar and sophomore Dorian Chaigneau represented Harding at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships on March 11-12. Senior Matt Hipshire won the men’s decathlon, and freshman Sofie Reitbauer won at the Harding-hosted meet for heptathletes and decathletes on March 7-8.
“Sierra White earned Harding’s first ever All-American in the indoor women’s pole vault with a 7th place finish,” assistant track coach Jessica Withrow said. “Kinga Szarzynska placed 17th in the women’s 800-meter run.”
Aguilar, Parrish and Chaigneau all competed in the pole vault at the championship. Aguilar placed 12th, Parrish placed 7th and Chaigneau placed 4th. Parrish and Chaigneau also earned All-American status.
The track team is now beginning their outdoor season and will be competing almost every weekend until the end of the season.
“We will begin our outdoor season after spring break,” head coach Don Hood said. “We will host a meet here on March 19 and again on April 9.”
White said that in preparation for the March 19 home meet, the team has worked out over the break and will continue to participate in their regular training regimen. White said Hood trusted the team to stay in shape over the break and be prepared to continue competing at the same skill level in the outdoor season as the team had in the indoor season.
“This home meet is a good way for everyone to get to compete and start off the outdoor season strong, so I know we’re all looking forward to it.” White said.
Withrow said she hoped the track team would be supported at this meet and that the Harding student body would be present on March 19.
“Our track team had a very successful indoor season with lots of personal bests, broken school records and taking five to indoor nationals,” Withrow said. “We are ready for outdoor season and look forward to competing at conference and nationals.”
