Diggs’ Abby Clark qualifies for NAIA National Championships

The following is a release from the Montana Tech Sports Information Department:

KANSAS CITY, Mo.- The NAIA announced the outdoor track and field multi-event qualifiers for the 2024 NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship in Marion, Ind.

The top 16 marks in the heptathlon qualify to compete at the national championship. With the second-highest score in the NAIA this season, Montana Tech’s Abby Clark has made the cut to compete at the National Championships.

Abby, a Junior from Fort Benton, is looking to add to her already impressive resume. A two-time All-American in the multi’s (3^rd place Heptathlon- 2023 Outdoor Championships, 4^th place Pentathlon- 2024 Indoor Championships) Abby has had a fantastic spring. Her 5009 points at the Trudnowski Open (Frontier Conference Championship) was the highest total in Frontier Conference history as well as a new PR.

Here is a look at the final field of 16 competing at nationals.

Event 41 - Women Heptathlon

===============================================================================

Name                        Year School               Points

===============================================================================

1  Dutchak, Rebecca              JR British Colu           5109

2  Clark, Abby                   JR Montana Tech           5009

3  Finke, Renee                  JR Central Meth           4987

4  Grandle, Lizzy                SO Eastern Oreg           4946

5  Stevens, Abi                  SR Southern Ore           4827

6  McColly, Kaitlyn              JR Dickinson St           4682

7  Noble, Josi                   SO Concordia (N           4655

8  Straus, Delaney               SO Culver-Stock           4654

9  Helmuth, Cailyn               SR Bethel (Ind.           4625

10  Richert, Amy                  SR Concordia (N           4600

11  Barnes, Emma                  SO Montreat               4489

12  Odell, Ally                   SR Oregon Tech            4480

13  Bellamy, Haley                SO Central Meth           4446

14  Washington, Adrienne          SO Eastern Oreg           4350

15  Hines, Mya                    FR Cumberlands            4341

16  Bedard, Karli                 SR Eastern Oreg           4340

The current heptathlon record holder is Kim Vanderhoek of Simon Fraser (B.C.) in 2012 with a score of 5,626.

The 2023 champion was Kaitlyn McColly of Dickinson State, with a final score of 4,922.

The NAIA Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Championship hosted by Indiana Wesleyan will take place in Marion, Indiana May 22-24, 2024.

The final qualifiers list for the championship will be announced on Friday, May 17, by 10 p.m. central on naia.org.

Links to schedules and further information can be found here.