My name is Mark Wieczorek (aka Wiz). I just wanted to introduce myself to anyone who doesn’t know me. I ran in college at Mid America Nazarene, which is a small NAIA school in Olathe, KS, where my best time was 148.07. Shortly after graduating college I ran in the US Outdoor Championships in Indianapolis where I ran qualified for the semi finals. Last year I trained under Gags as a part of Team XO and I lowered my pb to 147.14 at the Milers Series, which qualified me for the Olympic trials.

    This year I came back to Oregon to train with the OTC Elite, despite the departure of Gags (who really did a lot for me and made it possible for me to be able to continue my running career). With Gags leaving I was afraid I would slip through the cracks without Gags here looking out for me, but from the moment Coach Rowland showed up he has really taken an interest in my running career and helped further integrate me into the team, and after my first race he allowed me to officially join the team. I have been very fortunate that this year to have not gotten sick, and aside from a hamstring strain that put me out for a few weeks in the fall I have been injury free and able to keep my training going smoothly.

    I opened up the 2009 indoor season with races at the UW Invite and Husky Classic where I ran 148.43 and 148.27. My pre race goal before the first meet was to break 1:50 so I could qualify for US Indoors. I knew my fitness was definitely the best it has ever been but I was still really happy with the times I was running so it increased my excitement for nationals.

    For nationals, my big goal was to make the finals and then just run my best and I would be content with whatever happened (I really wanted top 3 as well but I didn’t know what to expect), as long as I got myself into the finals. I definitely felt a big difference dropping down to a 200-meter track, and it was my first time on a banked track. In the prelims I felt like I wasn’t running very efficiently and I wasted a lot of energy on the turns, and in the end it took much more effort to run the 1:49 than I thought it would, so I was pretty nervous in the finals. For the finals, my pre race plan was to settle in the back so I could just relax and gauge the pace of the race. I also felt like I wasn’t running very comfortably in the front of the pack in the prelims, especially with such a slow first 400 so I thought I could run better from the back. In the finals I think I came through the quarter around 55 mid to high and I was beginning to 2nd guess my decision to go out so conservatively. At the end of the 3rd lap I was feeling surprisingly good (I have always struggled with coming back the day after a race) so I just gave it all I had and I was really happy with how things turned out. I definitely like the direction Rowland is leading us and I think he has us on track have a great year, and I am very excited to see how far I can go this year.

NAIA Cross Country / Track Championships

Here are the new top marks from the past weekend (2/21/09) from NAIA.

Click here for complete performance lists

60
1.  Hyman, Kemar    King College     6.73              
1.  Nabors, Johnnie    Union (Ky.)     6.76
    
200
1.  Miller, Ramon     Dickinson St.     21.42    
2.  Moseley, Marissa     Oklahoma Baptist     24.74    

400
1.  Miller, Ramon    Dickinson St.     47.14    
1.  Moseley, Marissa    Oklahoma Baptist     55.87    

600
1.  Vazquez, Sam    Embry-Riddle     1:19.79    
2.  Montgomery, Brittany    Oklahoma City  1:31.70

800
2.  Biwott, Purity      Wayland Baptist    2:11.00

1000
1.  Rono, Aron            Azusa Pacific     2:24.80   

3000
3.  Melhorn, Aaron    Malone      8:17.64

3000 Race Walk

1.  Wiseman, Josh    Cedarville     12:50.24

February 21, 2009

The 2009 NCCAA Indoor Championships took place this weekend in Cedarville, OH. The Men's team title was won by Bethel College with 149 points, and on the Women's side Bethel was edged out by Cedarville University 169.5 points to 163.

Click here for meet information and individual and team results.

   Many don’t know much about the elite level athletes currently competing who were NAIA athletes, so I thought I would point all the NAIA fans out there in the right direction, and talk about a few who have strarted.

   Jennifer Stuczynski, Roberts Wesleyan (2002-05), kicked off her 2009 campaign with a win at the Millrose games jumping 15-05.5, and followed that up this weekend with a new American record jump of 15-09.75. Anyone who follows track knows who she is but few knew that she competed NAIA or that she has school records for the Roberts Wesleyan basketball team.

   Next on the featured athlete list is Michael Rodgers, Oklahoma Baptist (2007), who picked right up where he left off last year at the U.S. Indoor Championships with with wins at Millrose and Boston. His time of 6.51 sec. at Millrose gave him the fastest time on the world this year.

   Much less known are Rebecca Johnstone and Julia Howard, who both competed for Simon Fraser. Both run the 800 and 1500, and competed in the 800 in the 2008 Canadian Olympic Trials, where Rebecca Johnstone won with a time of 2:03.99. Both athletes opened up their seasons in Washington where Howard won the mile in 4:39.27 and Johnstone was 2nd in the 800 in 2:06.05.
I will have more updates as more athletes begin competing.

-Wiz

So to kick things off I'd like to apologize for the lack of coverage we ended up with at the meet. we were planning on having at least all of the finals of the races filmed, and then whatever else we were able to get done, but the video camera broke. These plans were made without knowing that flotrack was going to be there, so at least the NAIA got the coverage, which is all that matters; and they did an awesome job by the way. You can see all the races from the meet by following this link (thanks again to our friends at flotrack.org).

For those who were unable to follow the meet, you pretty much missed the most exciting race in the history of NAIA track and field. Azusa Pacific won the mens title over Oklahoma Baptist by .75 points!! and Wayland Baptist took the womens title by 1 over Azusa Pacific. A full recap of the meet can be viewed on the NAIA page, and the complete results can be viewed by clicking here.

Also, we got a pretty sweet NAIA page up under the events section, so all you NAIA members should check it out by clicking here. And if you have any race videos or pictures, please upload them so we can make this NAIA page amazing.

-mw

For most NAIA teams, this was conference weekend, and the last meet to qualify for nationals - so this final set of times should pretty much round out the performance lists for the year:
400m
Ramon Miller – Dickenson State – 47.95 – #2
600m
Laura Jacobson – Northwestern – 1:35.80 - #4
1000m
Purity Biwott – Wayland Baptist – 2:57.64 - #5
Kym Bennett – Doane – 2:57.71 - #6
Christopher Sinick – Malone – 2:27.74 - #2
Kirby Dunn – Wayland Baptist – 2:28.03 - #3
Andrew Jacob – Midland Lutheran – 2:29.02 - #4
Durrell Williams – Oklahoma Baptist – 2:29.28 - #5
1 mile
Alissa McKraig – Indiana Tech – 4:54.98 #2
Amand Strouse – Aquinas – 4:59.29 - #5
Josh Foss – Indiana Wesleyan – 4:13.28 - #2
Cody Bordewyk – Black Hills State – 4:16.88 - #5
James Zeuch – Malone – 4:17.00 - #5
3k
Jamie Canterbury – Azusa Pacific – 9:50.45 - #2
Jackie Kipwambock – Azusa Pacific – 9:57.96 - #3
Aron Rono – Azusa Pacific – 8:15.03 - #1
5k
Charity Miles – Northwestern – 17:41.24 - #

The NAIA National Chmpionships are set for March 6th-8th, and will be held in Johnson City, Tennessee.

   So for those who watched the Indoor Championships, you may have noticed we had a couple NAIA athletes winning titles. First was the favorite in the womens pole-vault Jennifer Stuczynski with a winning jump of 4.70m. In the final event of the meet, Michael Rogers, who graduated from OBU last year, took the mens 60m dash after a slow start in a time of 6.54 outleaning Leroy Dixon by a margin of .02 seconds. Despite being young and new on the scene, Rogers has shown that he is capable of competing with the best, and will now compete for the U.S. in Valencia, Spain at the World Indoor Championships. An interview with Rogers after his race can be seen by following this link (courtesy of flotrack.org).

I looked through the heat sheets and realized there was a pretty good showing of NAIA athletes, both current and former. So here are all the ones that I know of:
William McCaskill is currently a junior at the University of St. Gregory’s, a school that has established itself as an NAIA powerhouse of quarter milers over the last few years. William will be competing in the mens 400m run, after posting his time of 46.95 to qualify him as the 7th fastest athlete entered for the meet. Throughout his career at St. Gregory’s, McCaskill was a multiple time all American in the 400, as well as the 4x4; which he, alongside teammate Jerry Jones, currently hold the NAIA indoor and outdoor meet records.
Jerry Jones, who graduated from St. Gregory’s last year, will toe the line alongside his former teammate McCaskill. Jones qualified for the meet with his time of 46.69, which is the 5th fastest of the times entered. Like McCaskill, Jones proved to be one of the top NAIA athletes the last few years, as he achieved multiple all American finishes, national titles, and NAIA records.
Patrick Stroupe is a recent graduate of Central Methodist University. Stroupe’s career of outstanding performances at the NAIA meet solidified him as the best racewalker the NAIA has seen in recent history.
Michael Rogers competed for Lindenwood University until his junior year, and then transferred to Oklahoma Baptist for his senior campaign. As anyone familiar with the NAIA could tell you, Rogers dominated the sprinting events, collecting national titles in the 60m, 100m, 200m, and 4x4; including multiple at several of the National meets. His time of 6.57 this year in the 60m dash not only qualified him for the meet, but puts him with the fastest time for all the athletes entered.
A little more well known, are the last 2 NAIA athletes Jennifer Stuczynski of Roberts Wesleyan and Bryan Clay of Azusa Pacific University. Both have made their presence known on the world scene, and are 2 of the top U.S. stars in their events. Stuczynski will be competing in the pole vault, while Clay is entered in the 60m hurdles and long jump.


-MW

It seemed to be a little bit of a down week, as many teams were not competing this week, but some solid times were posted none the less. Here is what I found from thos last weekend:

800m
Jessica Smith – Simon Fraser – 2:10.87 - #1 (NAIA rank)
Mitchell Culley – Simon Fraser – 1:52.65 - #1
Beth McCubbin – Emery-Riddle – 2:13.61 - #2
Heather Mancell – Simon Fraser – 2:14.33 - #5
Brett Tipton – Indiana Tech – 1:54.02 - #4
1000m
Aron Rono – Azusa Pacific – 2:27.47 - #1
Evans Kiptoo – Lindenwood – 2:29.81 - #3
1 mile
Bethany Carr – Olivet Nazarene – 4:46.88 - #1
Jamie Canterbury – Azusa Pacific – 4:58.88 - #2
Jackie Kipwambok – Azusa Pacific – 5:00.92 - #5
Josh Foss – Indiana Wesleyan – 4:15.34 - #2
3000m
Kirsten Kolstad- Simon Fraser – 10:00.49 - #2
Cody Bordewyk – Black Hills State – 8:29.54 - #4
5000m
Noah Too- Mid Ameirca Nazarene – 14:58.69 - #4

Jessica Smith of Simon Fraser University, runs her way to a 2:10.87 last weekend at the Husky Classic. This time currently ranks her #1 in the Womens 800.

I have been looking a little bit and there are a few current and former NAIA athletes who have hit the standards to compete, so I will have another blog coming in a few days to recognize those athletes who have NAIA ties that will be competin, so all you NAIA fans out there will know who to be cheering for. As you may have noticed, there have been alot of new improvements and additions to the ite lately, so I hope everyone is liking how things are progressing as much as I am. Also, if you have any NAIA ties and you are new to the site send me a message or something so I know your there.

-Mark

    Things are continuing to pick up on the NAIA scene, as more athletes and teams are competing. I decided to mix things up a bit this week since there are more athletes running and only include the faster times. So here's what we got from this last weekend:
400m
Sherene Pinnock – Oklahoma Baptist – 55.88 - #1 (NAIA rank)
Marissa Moseley – Oklahoma Baptist – 56.40 - #2
Brittany Simmons – Kings College – 57.50 - #3
William Mccaskill - St. Gregory’s – 47.45 - #1
Joe Hughes – St. Gregory’s – 48.37 - #3
600m
Kydia Echols – Wayland Baptist – 1:34.88 - #3
Luke Pawlaczyk – Siena Heights – 1:19.80 - #1
800m
Bethany Carr – Olivet Nazarene – 2:13.66 - #1
Olivia Johnson – Northwestern – 2:16.06 - #6
Michael Saalfeld – Concordia – 1:52.86 - #1
A.J. Carter – Oklahoma Baptist – 1:53.78 - #3
1000m
Bethany Carr – Olivet Nazarene – 2:50.92 - #3
1 mile
Aron Rono – Azusa Pacific – 4:08.18 - #1
3k
Amanda Strouse – Aquinas – 10:11.25 - #3
Aron Rono – Azusa Pacific – 8:20.48 - #1
5k
Evans Kiptoo – Lindenwood - #2
4x4
Oklahoma Baptist W – 3:48.91 - #1
Oklahoma Baptist M – 3:16.00 - #1
DMR
Wayland Baptist W – 9:26.34 - #2

It seems like a while since I have seen any new NAIA faces joining the site, so we need to get the word out. Also, if anyone gets a chance to upload any of their races it would be appreciated. I know the runnerspace team will be getting some footage from a few different meets this coming weekend, but it would be nice if we could get some NAIA races to throw in the mix.

mark

OK...so I know that there aren't that many NAIA athletes on here yet, but for those that are here it would be sweet if we could get some of you guys to upload some pictures and videos of your races so we could pump up the NAIA coverage here a little bit. Also, if you do, let me know so I can post them with the results in the blog. So anyway here are the results I found for this week.

Lindenwood University
Caitlyn Sandquist – 18:57.67 5k
Anthony Saenz – 1:12.58 600yd
Evans Kiptoo – 8:29.03 3k
Chris Sandefur – 15:22.19 5k

Oklahoma Baptist University
Marissa Mosely – 57.08 400m
Yesenia Avila – 1:26.58 600yd
Optimum Baker – 1:26.96 600yd
Women - 3:55.36 4x4
Women - 9:43.17 4x8
A.J. Carter – 1:20.57 600m
T.J. Lightsey – 1:56.63 800m
Men – 3:19.14 – 4x4
Men - 7:53.36 – 4x8

Doane University
Kym Bennett – 11:26.93 - 2 mile

Oklahoma Christian University
Sylvia Chirchir – 5:17.83 - 1 mile
Jordan Powell – 4:23.27 - 1 mile
Josh Wayland – 1:56.36 - 800m
Men – 10:16.71 - DMR

Missouri Baptist
Meagan Hudson – 5:13.98 - 1 mile / 18:14.93 - 5k
Kenny Kibii – 1:56.11 - 800m

Graceland University
Ben Vink – 1:56.90 - 800m

Mid America Nazarene University
Dallas Henry – 1:14.27 - 600yd / 2:33.82 - 1k

Cornerstone University
Jacob Erickson – 50.60 - 400m
Zach Ripley – 4:19.59 – 1 mile
Sammy Maiyo – 4:21.15 – 1mile / 14:58.81 – 5k
Men – 10:18.28 - DMR

Siena Heights University
Adrian Simmons – 1:20.71 - 600m
Luke Pawlaczyk – 2:30.91 – 1k
Robert Deo – 4:20.13 – 1 mile
Men – 3:21.34 – 4x4
Men – 7:43.63 – 4x8
Men 10:19.85 – DMR

Tiffin University
Jeremy Lee – 1:55.59 – 800m
Jason Bumb – 4:22.63 – 1 mile
Men - 10:24.39 - DMR

Malone University
Brad Sinick – 14:34.31 – 5k

Wayland Baptist University
Erin Britton – 2:14.54 – 800m
Caroline Karunde – 10:04.10 – 3k
Jason Carter – 49.57 – 400m
Kirby Unn – 1:55.27 – 800m

Black Hills State University
Cody Bordewyk – 4:21.62

Union College
Andre Thornton – 49.81 – 400m

Azusa Pacific University
Anthony Logan – 1:21.79 – 600m
Men – 7:56.34 – 4x8

Cumberlands University
Brett Ratliff – 1:56.56 – 800m

Notre Dame University (Ohio)
April Wanzo – 58.16 – 400m

Indiana Tech University
Alyssa McKaig – 9:50.24 – 3k

St. Gregory’s University
Brittany Montgomery – 58.88 – 400m
William McCaskill – 48.10 – 400m
Joe Hughes – 48.68 – 400m
Men – 3:17.75 – 4x4

*News of the Week*
Elpas Sang, who won the indoor 800m and was runner-up outdoors for Mid America last year, has recently transferred to Iowa State. Sang will be not compete for the buckeyes untill next year, but hopes to be able to compete unattached this year. On the women's side, Amanda Mayfield, who was a multi-time NAIA all-american for OBU, is now running for Oklahoma University. Mayfield competed at Arkansas this weekend for the Sooners where she posted a 2:11.76 in the 800m run. Best of luck to both of these athletes.

So there it is...im trying to think of some good ideas to help add to these blogs besides getting some sweet pictures and videos to help make these a little cooler to read, so any imput is appreciated. Another thing for all you NAIA guys out there keep inviting your friends to the site and hopefully we can build up some decent numbers and this will be a good place for all us NAIA people to keep connected. And again, if you are an NAIA athlete or coach or prior athlete...or even just a big NAIA fan and I havnt gotten your name on my profile yet please send me a message so I can keep the list going and we will all know who all is on here. Well thanks for reading, and look back in a week for the next blog,

Mark