Four Huskies Qualify for NCAA Outdoor Championships
Posted: May 14, 2019

Four Huskies Qualify for NCAA Outdoor Championships

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Emily Byrd, Matthew Pahl, Liz Bloch, and Braden Reichl have qualified to compete in five combined events at the 2019 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships on May 23-25 from Kingsville, Texas. It is the most track & field student-athletes to qualify for the National Championships in program history.

A senior from St. Clair Shores, Michigan, Bloch will be competing in the 800m and the 1500m. The two-time GLIAC champion in the 1500m, Bloch set two school records this season in the events she will be competing in. Her time of 2:09.47 in the 800m ranks her eighth in Division II and sixth in the region, while her 1500m time of 4:24.67 places her 15th in the country and third in the Midwest Region.

A junior from Canton, Michigan, Pahl punched his ticket to Kingsville, Texas after running the 10,000m at the Raleigh Relays in a record-time of 29:46.89. Pahl, who was the 10,000m champion at the 2019 GLIAC Championships, ranks 14th in Division II and sixth in the Midwest Region.

A freshman from Green River, Wyoming, Reichl was one of the top runners in the 3000m Steeplechase this year. An All-American during the cross country season, Reichl was the GLIAC champion when he crossed the finish line with a time of 9:00.20 after leading for most of the race. The school record holder in the 5000m, Reichl's season-best time puts him 16th in the country and fifth in the region.

A native of Perrysburg, Ohio, Byrd earned her spot in the 10,000m at the National Championships with a record-breaking run of 35:29.30 at the Raleigh Relays. An All-GLIAC Third Teamer after finishing third at the 2019 GLIAC Championships and a cross country All-America, Byrd enters the National Championships ranked 15th in the country and fourth in the region.

Hosted by Texas A&M Kingsville, the 2019 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field National Championships will take place on May 23-25 from Javelina Stadium. Bloch will kick off competition for the Huskies on Thursday (May 23) at 5:55 p.m. in the Women's 1500m Preliminary. Reichl will follow Bloch at 7:25 p.m. in the Men's 3000m Steeplechase Preliminary, while Byrd in the Women's 10,000m Final at 8:55 p.m. and Pahl in the Men's 10,000m Final at 9:35 p.m. will wrap up day one. On Friday (May 24), Bloch will run the 800m Preliminary at 6:05 p.m.

For the complete schedule of events, click here. Click here for the complete list of men's qualifiers, and click here for the complete list of women's qualifiers.