Day 3 Recap at NAIA Outdoor T&F National Championship: Men 32nd in country; Pavelek 10th in high jump
MARION, Indiana – The Point Park Track and Field team closed out the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships on Friday with Emma Pavelek placing 10th in the Women's High Jump and the men's team getting their highest finish ever at the National Championship.
WOMEN'S HIGH JUMP
Two-time NAIA All-American Emma Pavelek (Jr./ Beaver, Pa.) missed becoming an All-American by one jump as the junior placed 10th in the Women's High Jump. For Pavelek's first jump, she cleared 1.60 meters on her first attempt. Pavelek then cleared 1.65 meters on her second attempt at that height, and finally cleared 1.68 meters before ultimately being unable to clear 1.71 meters. Due to Pavelek taking two attempts to clear 1.68 meters the junior just missed out on her third All-American honor of her career. Previously Pavelek was named an All-American at the 2022 Indoor National Championships where she was the national runner up as well as the 2022 Outdoor National Championships where she placed seventh in the country.
MEN PLACE 32nd NATIONALLY
The men's track and field team closed out their final season in the NAIA with their highest placement ever at Nationals as a team. The men placed 32nd in the country with eight points. Point Park's highest finisher of the Outdoor Nationals was the Men's Javelin National Runner-Up Jakob Blatnik (Jr./ Slovenia). Blatnik threw for 67.08 meters on his fourth attempt to earn his highest placement ever at the National Championships while earning the eight points for the Pioneers.
COACH CREAMER
When asked about how he felt the Pioneer's did at the 2024 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships Head Coach Tim Creamer stated, "I couldn't be prouder with how each of our athletes performed at outdoor nationals this year." Creamer went on to state, "To have almost every member that competed in this year's outdoor championship finish higher than their seed coming into the meet showed what type of competitors they are." This year the Pioneers competed in 11 events which set a new record for the most individuals events contested for the two teams combined in program history while the men earned their highest placement ever.