SEWARD, Neb. – On the same day she was named GPAC Field Athlete of the Week, senior Morgan De Jong has been chosen as the NAIA National Field Athlete of the Week, as announced by the NAIA on Wednesday (Jan. 20). De Jong emerged as the national winner out of a field of conference award honorees. This is the first week that the NAIA has announced 2021 indoor athletes of the week.
A 2020 NAIA All-American in the weight throw, De Jong nearly matched her personal best in the same event with her toss of 56’ 8 ¾” in a winning performance at the Nisely Memorial Classic hosted by Doane. The native of Orange City, Iowa, also competed in the shot put and placed 10th with a mark of 37’ 5.” De Jong owns the top weight throw in the NAIA so far this indoor season. On the program’s all-time weight throw list, De Jong ranks No. 8 (57’ 9 ¾”) as part of a long line of All-Americans in the event.
The Concordia University Track & Field program has frequently pulled in NAIA national awards in recent seasons. Most recently, Rachel Battershell and Addie Shaw were both named NAIA National Athletes of the Week on Jan. 29, 2020. De Jong has claimed a national weekly award for the first time in her career.