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SEWARD, Neb. – For the second week in a row, Rachel Battershell has raked in an award from the GPAC. On Wednesday (April 21), the conference tabbed Battershell as the GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Track Athlete of the Week. During the 2021 outdoor season, Concordia University Track and Field athletes have combined for six GPAC athletes of the week (and two NAIA national athletes of the week).
A native of Wheatland, Wyo., Battershell has excelled to a high degree in the hurdles this outdoor season. At last week’s Jim Dutcher Memorial hosted by Doane, Battershell achieved personal bests and automatic national qualifying times of 14.55 in the 100 meter hurdles and 1:02.18 in the 400 meter hurdles. Her performance in the 100 hurdles broke her own school record (previously 14.59). On the NAIA national lists, Battershell ranks third in the 400 hurdles and 11th in the 100 hurdles.
Earlier this season, Battershell also anchored the 4x400 meter relay that owns an automatic national qualifying time of 3:53.92. The two-time national champion will take aim at qualifying for nationals in the open 400 meters on Friday when she competes at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.
2020-21 GPAC Athletes of the Week
Outdoor
April 21 – Rachel Battershell (track)
April 14 – Rachel Battershell (track); *Addie Shaw (field)
April 7 – *Addie Shaw (field)
March 31 – Jacob Cornelio (field), Addie Shaw (field)
Indoor
Feb. 17 – *Rachel Battershell (track)
Feb. 10 – Josie Puelz (field)
Feb. 3 – Kylahn Heritage (track)
Jan. 27 – Josie Puelz (field)
Jan. 20 – *Morgan De Jong (field), Kylahn Heritage (track)
*NAIA National Athlete of the Week