INDOOR TRACK & FIELD

The Huntington Indoor Track & Field program will be well represented at the 2023 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships set for March 2-4 at Dakota State University’s Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D.

The Forester women, ranked third and one of the favorites to win the team title, is entered in eight running events and three field events with freshman Addy Wiley headlining the meet as one of the nation’s top runners.

The rookie sensation is slated to compete in four individual events, the 600, 800, mile and 3000, as the top seed in each race. She will also run a leg of the DMR which is picked to finish third.

Joining Wiley on the distance medley relay team is freshman Mackenzie Brewer, graduate student Destinee McGrady, sophomore Emily Tedder and freshman Brielle Fehlmann (as the alternate).

McGrady, who transferred from Indiana Tech, has also sprinted her way into the 200 and 400 with the 400 her higher seed (9). The Pickerington HS (Ohio) product heads to South Dakota with two national titles and seven All-American honors to her name.

Tedder is also registered in more than just the DMR. She will also toe the line of the mile as the 15th seed.

Freshman Abbey Gentz is signed up to run the 5000 as the fourth seed after a brilliant race at the Crossroads League Championships where she came-from-behind to win in 17:22.10 (which converted to 17:14.18).

Graduate student Destiny Copeland, a two-time national champion for Indiana Tech last year, will look to defend her title in triple jump as the #2 seed and long jump as the #4 seed. Over the course of her collegiate career, the Chesapeake (Va.) native has accumulated five national titles and 16 All-American badges.

Junior Erica Xayarath, also a Tech transfer and one of the best jumpers in the nation, is the #1 seed in high jump and will also look to score for HU in long jump as the 5th-seed and triple jump as the 17th-seed. She owns her fair share of hardware too which includes a national title and three All-American honors.

On the men’s side, senior Dylan Felger will look to defend his national title in the 600 from a year ago. He enters the meet as the #3 seed. Over the course of his Forester career, the Ossian native has racked up two national titles and six All-American praises.

As the #12 seed, Junior Reece Gibson will line-up for the mile in hopes of adding to his All-American collection. During his first two years in Forester green, he has garnered four All-American honors.

Senior Kent Yoder will represent Huntington in the 5000 as the 11th seed. As a three-time All-American in cross country, the Shipshewana native is setting his sights on his first track All-American accolade this week.

Sophomore Zach Collins, who made his debut on the big stage in the 100 and 200 at outdoor nationals last year, rounds out Huntington’s qualifiers by earning a spot in the 200 as the 33rd seed.

Athletes who finish in the top eight in the prelims of their race advance to the finals. Below is the schedule of events for the Foresters. For a complete schedule, click here.

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