Rabenberg, Gerber, Stoller compete at NAIA Championships

MITCHELL, S.D. – It will be three familiar faces for the Dakota Wesleyan University track and field teams at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Indoor Track and Field National Championships, as Jared Rabenberg (Britton, S.D.), Lydia Gerber (Canton, S.D.) and Claire Stoller (Madison, S.D.) will compete on Friday and Saturday in Brookings, S.D.

 Rabenberg will compete in the high jump for the second-straight year at the national championships after taking 13^th a season ago in the event.

 The Britton, S.D., native qualified for nationals in his first event of the season at the SDSU Holiday Invite and Multi with a mark of 6-10.75 feet (2.10 meters). However, at the Great Plains Athletic Conference Championships, Rabenberg notched a mark of 6-9.5 feet (2.07 meters) to become a conference champion and break a facility record.

 "Jared had a great season that was made better by winning the GPAC title at home," head track and field coach Jamen Helton said. "It was a great environment for him to compete in, he had a huge amount of support. I'm really excited to see what he can do at NAIA's this week; he is really looking good right now."

 Gerber and Stoller will compete in the triple jump for a second consecutive season at the national championships. Last season, Gerber placed 24^th and Stoller took 31^st at the national meet.

 This year, both athletes qualified for nationals at the last possible chance, at the GPAC Championships. In Gerber's third attempt, she tallied a mark of 36-10.5 feet (11.24 meters), as she hit the 'B' Standard and qualified for the national meet. The mark was also enough to secure Gerber a second-place finish in the GPAC Championships.

 "Lydia had a very strong year; she is so much faster than she was a year ago," Helton commented. "It takes some time to learn to connect speed to the runway but she has done a really good job and everything is really coming together for her at this point of the season!"

 Stoller was not far behind as she took third at the conference meet. In her final attempt of the day, Stoller notched a leap of 36-7 feet (11.15 meters), good for a 'B' Standard and a trip to the NAIA National Championships.

 "Claire is an extremely hard worker, so it is great to see her hit that 'B' mark," Helton said. "She is one of the most consistent athletes I have seen and has a great understanding of the event. It was only a matter of time for her."

 Rabenberg kicks off the weekend in the high jump at 2 p.m. on Friday. Gerber and Stoller compete in the triple jump at 10 a.m. on Saturday, as all events will be held at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D.

 If you cannot make the trip to Brookings, the NAIA will stream the event for a price of $14.95 with the link to the stream HERE.