Battershell, Shaw make for sweep of GPAC weekly honors

By Jacob Knabel on Apr. 14, 2021 in Track & Field

GPAC Release

SEWARD, Neb. – An impressive first few weeks of the outdoor season has been highlighted by a large number of individual performances for the top-ranked Concordia University Women’s Track & Field team. On Wednesday (April 14), past national champions Rachel Battershell (track) and Addie Shaw (field) were honored by the conference as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Track & Field Athletes of the Week. Bulldog athletes have combined for five GPAC weekly awards so far this outdoor season.

A native of Wheatland, Wyo., Battershell has not rested on the satisfaction of her indoor 400 meter national title. Her performances at the Concordia Invite included an automatic national qualifying standard in the 400 meter hurdles (1:03.22), another auto time as the anchor of the 4x400 meter relay (3:53.92) and a school record and ‘B’ standard in the 100 meter hurdles (14.59). Battershell placed first at the Concordia Invite in the 400 hurdles and 4x4 and second in the 100 hurdles. Nationally, she ranks sixth in the 400 hurdles and 11th in the 100 hurdles. The 4x4 currently sits No. 5 in the NAIA.

Based upon the current national leaderboard, it’s fair to say that Shaw has been the most dominant female thrower in the NAIA in 2021. At last week’s Concordia Invite, the Bassett, Neb., native won the hammer (174’) and shot pot (47’ 7”) competitions and placed third in discus (143’ 11”). Her mark in the shot put represents a personal best that ranks No. 1 in the NAIA.  Not only does Shaw lead the NAIA in the shot put, she also ranks both third in the hammer and discus. Shaw has won three-straight GPAC Field Athlete of the Week awards.

2020-21 GPAC Athletes of the Week
Outdoor
April 14 – Rachel Battershell (track); Addie Shaw (field)
April 7 – *Addie Shaw (field)
March 31 – Jacob Cornelio (field), Addie Shaw (field)
Indoor
Feb. 17 – *Rachel Battershell (track)
Feb. 10 – Josie Puelz (field)
Feb. 3 – Kylahn Heritage (track)
Jan. 27 – Josie Puelz (field)
Jan. 20 – *Morgan De Jong (field), Kylahn Heritage (track)
*NAIA National Athlete of the Week