NWU Athletics
Ryley Egger, Sports Information Director
GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Nebraska Wesleyan men’s and women’s track and field teams wrapped up the 2021 outdoor season at the NCAA Division III Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Prairie Wolves had five All-Americans and one All-American relay team. Additionally, the NWU women’s team finished tied for 11th in the nation with 22 points.
All-Americans
Linnaea Konfrst started the weekend off for NWU with a national runner-up finish in the discus on Thursday, May 27. Konfrst had a mark of 152’-00” for the second-place finish. It is the first All-American accolade in Konfrst’s career.
Keegan Rich added a second All-American award to Nebraska Wesleyan’s total on Thursday. Rich had a leap of 22’-9.00” on his first jump of the day to place seventh in the event. It is Rich’s first career All-American honor. Before the last regular-season meet of the season on May 20, 2021, Rich ranked 62nd nationally in the event then recorded a qualifying mark at the Augie Twilight Qualifier to be seeded 17th heading into Thursday’s championship meet.
Dayton Dolincheck became the third Prairie Wolf to earn All-American accolades on the weekend. Dolincheck finished fourth in the shot put with a mark of 47’-1.50” on Saturday, May 29. It is the second career All-American award for Dolincheck as Dolicheck finished fifth in the shot put in 2019.
Kyle Dickinson advanced to the finals in the 400-meter dash on Friday, May 28. Dickinson clocked a time of 48.34 to be seeded eighth in the finals. In the final, Dickinson ran a 48.04 to earn his first career All-American accolade.
Aspen Rolfes ran the program fastest time ever in Thursday’s 200-meter dash preliminary round. Rolfes clocked a 24.35, which seeded her fourth before Saturday’s final. In the finals, Rolfes ran a 24.13 to finish as national runner-up and earn All-American honors. Rolfes also lowered the program record for the event.
The 4×400-meter relay team of Isabella Hilger, Aspen Rolfes, Camryn Larsen, and Reagan Janzen ran a 3:48.59 in Thursday’s preliminary round. The time was the fourth-fastest in program history and seeded them seventh going into Saturday’s final. The team finished eighth in the finals with a time of 3:52.84. It is the first career All-American award for Hilger, Larsen, and Janzen.
Preliminary Round Recaps
NWU’s 4×100-meter dash team of Shantel Koranda, Maddie Moran, Bre Geary, and Aspen Rolfes ran a time of 48.25 on Thursday evening. The team finished 13th in the race.
The men’s 4×400-meter relay team of Kyle Dickinson, Ben Christenson, Gabe Anderson, and Garrett Lenners ran a time of 3:14.19 to place 11th. The team just missed out on qualifying for the finals by .1 of a second. Maddie Moran ran a 12.23 in Friday’s 100-meter dash preliminary round. Moran’s time placed 17th in the event.