Men's Track and Field | 5/27/2022 12:18:00 AM

GULF SHORES, Ala. – The Golden Eagles saw two NAIA All-Americans in day two of the Outdoor Championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama, doing so in a late night at the 10,000m. Both Haley Nieuwkoop and Luke Pohl finished in the top four in the event to earn the honor and get on the podium tomorrow morning. The rest of the CU competitors competed in the morning session and battled rain. Cornerstone closes out the NAIA Outdoor Championships tomorrow with four events, starting with Brenna Stratton in the half marathon at 7 a.m. EST. 
 
Men's Results:
As the rain continued to fall, the men's 4x800 crew finally got their chance in the second heat of the prelims. The quartet of Nate Vruggink (1:56.9), Spencer VanderZwagg (1:57.2), Grayson VerBerkmoes (1:57.8), and Grant Gayan (1:55.9) finished with a total time of 7:47.63 to finish seventh in their heat. They will not advance to Friday's final. 
 
Later in the afternoon, Ben Hofstra competed in the 5,000m race walk for the final time in his career. In a tough field, Hofstra sat in seventh for roughly the first 2200m. The second half of the race however, he dropped out of NAIA All-American status finishing 10^th overall with a mark of 25:20.62. 
 
Luke Pohl ended the night in the final event of day two in the 10,000m. Seeded seventh, Pohl came in and spent most of the race in a group of six that was crusing past the competition. That pack separated in the final 2000m to a group of three. Pohl did everything he could to keep up with the top two but ended in third overall with a time of 30:32.56. Pohl earns his first NAIA Outdoor All-American honor in the 10,000m. 
 
Women's Results: 
Nygia Pollard opened women's action with her rescheduled 3000m steeple prelim. She cruised to a fourth-place finish in her heat with a time of 10:53.82 to advance to Friday's final. Pollard sat in third and fourth much of the race, strategically doing enough to earn one of the five auto qualifying places for finals. 
 
The late night ended with Haley Nieuwkoop and Annika Shoemaker in the 10,000m. Nieuwkoop sat in fourth place and stayed in fourth place for the majority of the race, finishing with a time of 36:03.17 to earn her second NAIA Outdoor All-American in the 10,000m. Shoemaker was in a group a little farther back but had an excellent last 3000m to push herself into 19^th overall with a time of 38:35.56. 
 
What's Next? 
The Golden Eagles wrap up action at NAIA Outdoor Nationals tomorrow starting at 7 a.m. EST with Brenna Stratton in the half marathon. 
 
Track & Field Contact: Jesse Campbell 
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