From VCSU Athletics

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (VCSUAthletics.com) – Three Valley City State University athletes will compete at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships this week in Gulf Shores, Ala.

Senior Zachary Co, sophomore Clay Kummer and freshman Kendra Odegard have all met the national qualifying standards in their respective events and will represent VCSU at the NAIA National Meet from May 25-27. The Top 8 finishers in each event at the national championships earn All-American status.

Odegard has qualified to compete in the women’s javelin and has a top mark of 43.29 meters, which she threw at the NSAA Conference Championships. Odegard currently ranks sixth in the entire NAIA with her distance. The top eight qualifiers in the women’s javelin are separated by just nine feet entering the meet, setting up what should be a wide-open competition for the national title. Odegard won the javelin completion at all seven meets she competed at this spring. The women’s javelin is scheduled to be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25.

Co has qualified to compete in both the hammer throw and shot put. His top shot put throw of 16.20 meters this season ranks him 15th in the nation. He ranks 20th in hammer throw with a mark of 55.09 meters. Co also competed in both events at last year’s national meet, placing 33rd in hammer throw and 5th in shot put. Co enters the meet looking for the fourth All-American honor of his career. He previously finished Top 8 in shot put at the 2020 and 2021 indoor nationals, and the 2021 outdoor nationals. The men’s hammer throw is at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, and the shot put competition is scheduled for 3 p.m. on Friday.

Kummer is a first-time qualifier to the national meet and will compete in the men’s 400 meter hurdles. Kummer met the NAIA’s ‘B’ standard with a time of 54.56 seconds earlier this season. That ranks him 31st entering the national meet. The prelims of the men’s 400 meter hurdles will be held at 5:35 p.m. on Wednesday. The finals are set for 4:20 p.m. on Friday.

Live video of the national meet is available to watch for a fee at: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/naia/

Live results from the meet will also be available. That link will be posted on VCSU’s schedule when it becomes available.

2022 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships
Wednesday, May 25
4 p.m. – Men’s Hammer Throw (Zachary Co)
5:35 p.m. – Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles Prelims (Clay Kummer)
6 p.m. – Women’s Javelin (Kendra Odegard)

Friday, May 27
3 p.m. – Men’s Shot Put (Zachary Co)
4:20 p.m. – Men’s 400 Meter Hurdles Finals (Clay Kummer)