SEWARD, Neb. – Starring performances at the season opening Concordia Early Bird Meet have resulted in recognition for sophomore Rachel Battershell and senior Jacob Cornelio. Battershell has been named as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week while Cornelio has been tabbed the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. The announcement was made on Wednesday (Dec. 18) by the GPAC.
Battershell has put her name atop the program’s record book in the 60 meter hurdles after she clocked a time of 9.02 in the event last week. She also ran the 400 meters in 59.22 while winning the event. Finally, the native of Wheatland, Wyo., teamed up on the 4x400 meter relay that finished in 4:03.87. The returning GPAC champ in the 400, Battershell’s times in the hurdles and the 400 are both ‘B’ standard qualifying marks. They are currently the top times among GPAC athletes.
A returning national runner up in the weight throw, Cornelio has already locked in a spot at the 2020 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships. He won the weight throw competition at the Early Bird with a toss of 64’ 8 ¾” that currently puts him at No. 1 in the NAIA. The native of Elk Grove, Calif., is the reigning GPAC champion in the event. Cornelio’s personal best of 65’ 11 ½” in the weight throw puts him at No. 2 on the program’s all-time list.
Head coach Matt Beisel’s track and field squads will wait until the second semester to resume the indoor season. The bulk of the team will be at the Scott Nisely Invite hosted by Doane on Jan. 17-18.