Women's Track and Field Athletes Headed to NAIA Outdoor Championships

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Northwestern women's track and field team will send three events to this weekend's 2023 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Outdoor Track and Field Championships, held in Marion, Indiana. Kennedy Kramer in the 400m, Jacie Vander Waal in the high jump, and the 4x400m relay team of Abigail Clarke, Kennedy Kramer, Savonne Sterk, and Emma Blum will be competing on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University on May 25-26.

Kramer (So., Larchwood, Iowa) will compete at the NAIA outdoor meet for the first time in her career, as she has run the 400m in two NAIA Indoor Championships. Kramer hit a career-best time of 56.51 at the GPAC Championships, placing second in the event. She has been top-3 in all of her appearances this outdoor season, running a sub-59.00 time in each meet. Kramer will run in the 400m semifinals on Thursday at 3:00 p.m. central time (CT).

Vander Waal (So., Sioux Center, Iowa) is making her second outdoor championships appearance in two years, as she finished 20^th with a jump of 1.59m in 2022. The sophomore has been the top high jumper in four meets this season, hitting a PR mark of 1.65m at the Central Nebraska Challenge and the Red Raider Open. She finished as an All-Conference performer as well, placing third (1.60m) at the 2023 GPAC Championships. The high jump finals will take place on Friday at 1:00 p.m.

A third-place finish for the 4x400m relay team of Blum (Fr., Omaha, Neb.), Clarke (Sr., Waverly, Neb.), Kramer, and Sterk (Jr., Lynden, Wash.) helped the Raider women put a relay team in the NAIA Championships, also finishing as All-Conference performers. They qualified with a time of 3:55.47, hitting their best time at the conference meet. The 4x400m relay prelims will be on Thursday at 7:15 p.m.

A livestream and live results will be available, with both linked at the top of the story.

SEASON MARKS – bold denotes personal best
4x400m (Blum, Clarke, Kramer, Sterk)

Central Nebraska Challenge – 4:00.90 (2^nd)
USD Early Bird – 4:07.53 (3^rd)
GPAC Championships – 3:55.47 (3^rd)

Kennedy Kramer – 400m

Wayne State Wildcat Classic – 58.72 (1^st)
Central Nebraska Challenge – 57.48 (3^rd)
USD Early Bird – 58.49 (2^nd)
Sioux City Relays – 57.67 (1^st)
Red Raider Open – 57.88 (1^st)
GPAC Championships – 56.51 (2^nd)

Jacie Vander Waal – High Jump

Wayne State Wildcat Classic – 1.60m (1^st)
Central Nebraska Challenge – 1.65m (1^st)
USD Early Bird – 1.55m (13^th)
Sioux City Relays – 1.60m (1^st)
Red Raider Open – 1.65m (1^st)
GPAC Championships – 1.60m (3^rd)

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Players Mentioned

Abigail Clarke: Hurdles/Mid-Distance; Senior

Kennedy Kramer: Mid-Distance; Sophomore

Savonne Sterk: Mid-Distance; Junior

Jacie Vander Waal: High Jump; Sophomore

Emma Blum: High Jump; Freshman

Players Mentioned

Abigail Clarke
: Senior
: Hurdles/Mid-Distance

Kennedy Kramer
: Sophomore
: Mid-Distance

Savonne Sterk
: Junior
: Mid-Distance

Jacie Vander Waal
: Sophomore
: High Jump

Emma Blum
: Freshman
: High Jump