SEWARD, Neb. – Following both indoor meets this season, sophomore Rachel Battershell has garnered recognition from the GPAC. On Wednesday (Jan. 22), the conference named Battershell the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week. Battershell raked in the same award on Dec. 18 when senior Jacob Cornelio was also honored as the Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week.
A native of Wheatland, Wyo., Battershell appears to be on a path to stardom for head coach Matt Beisel’s program. At the Nisely Memorial Classic on Jan. 18, Battershell re-broke her own 60 meter hurdle record by clocking in at 9.00 in the prelims. She then ran 9.02 in the finals while winning the event. The two-time 2019 All-American also took first place in the 600 meters at Doane with a time of 1:39.28.
A former eight-time state champion, Battershell is the current GPAC leader in the 60 meter hurdles, 400 meters and 600 meters. Battershell won the 400 meter GPAC outdoor title in 2019 (runner up for indoor). Battershell was a 2019 NAIA indoor national qualifier in the 400 meters.
Battershell and the Bulldogs are getting ready to host the Polar Dog Invite this Saturday.