Marion, Indiana - Today (May 24), in the comfortable temperatures on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University, the Aquinas men's and women's track and field team began competion at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The Saints had two athletes advance to the finals while one earned All-American status.
 
Hannah Adler began her national competition when competing in the 10K. Adler claimed the final scoring spot in the race taking eighth. She crossed the line at 37:00 to continue adding All-American plaques to her collection. Molly Harding joined her in the 10K and finished at 39:27. 
 
The two athletes to advance to finals came from the men's side when Ben Hardy and Connor Callahan competed in the prelims of the Steeplechase. Both Saints were in the second of three heats and Connor Callahan crossed the line second at 9:21 while Hardy did so at 9:24. The two men return to action on Friday at 1:20 PM.
 
The men's 4x800 team was the first AQ track event competing today. The quartet of Will Finch, Rob Lohr, Will Westveer, and Caleb Hodgkinson ran 7:41. The Saints took third in their heat and 13th overall as they were unable to qualify for nationals.
 
Finally, Shaily Baynes competed in the pole vault. She finished with no height.
 
AQ returns to action tomorrow with the 800 Meter Run kicking off events for the Saints. The women's prelim kicks off at 2:30 PM.