National 400 meter leader Battershell recognized by NAIA, GPAC

By Jacob Knabel on Feb. 17, 2021 in Track & Field

GPAC Release | NAIA Release

SEWARD, Neb. – Following a performance that put her atop the national leaderboard, junior Rachel Battershell has been named both the NAIA National Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week and the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, as announced on Wednesday (Feb. 17). Battershell has garnered GPAC and NAIA national weekly honors for the first time this indoor season (five-time career GPAC winner). As a team, Concordia University Women’s Track & Field has collected six GPAC and two NAIA National Athlete of the Week honors in 2021.

A native of Wheatland, Wyo., Battershell clocked a season best 400-meter time of 57.19 at last week’s Concordia Invite. When converted to the national list (56.44), Battershell rose to No. 1 in the NAIA in the 400 meters. Also at the Concordia Invite, Battershell placed third in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.99. On the current NAIA national performance lists, the star Bulldog also ranks fifth in the 600 meters (1:35.93), ninth in the 60 hurdles (8.95) and fourth as part of the 4x400 meter relay (3:54.37).

Battershell enjoyed an incredible 2020 sophomore indoor season when she earned GPAC Athlete of the Year honors and won the NAIA 400 meter national championship. She owns program indoor records in the 400 meters (54.77), the 60 hurdles (8.81) and as part of the 4x4 (3:47.39).

The Bulldogs will be back in action this weekend (Feb. 19-20) at the GPAC Indoor Track & Field Championships. The meet will be hosted by Dordt in Sioux Center, Iowa.

2020-21 GPAC Athletes of the Week
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