SEWARD, Neb. – Tabbed the GPAC track athlete earlier in the day, senior Kim Wood earned loftier distinction on Wednesday afternoon when the NAIA named her its national track athlete of the week. It marks the first career national weekly honor for Wood, a three-time All-American and six-time GPAC champion on the track. She’s twice been named a conference athlete of the week in her standout career.
The native of Greeley, Neb., qualified for the indoor national championships in two events while competing at the UNL Holiday Inn Invitational last week. She turned in a NAIA-leading time of 5:06.77 in the one mile and then the next day clocked in at 1:35.80 in the 600 meter race (second best in the NAIA). She also ran a 2:15 leadoff leg for the Concordia 4x800 meter relay that placed second (9:49.85) at the Nisely Classic at Doane on Jan. 16.
Wood begins her final season as a Bulldog as one of the most accomplished runners in program history. She owns school indoor track records in the 800 meters (2:12.25), 1,000 meters (2:12.25) and as part of the 4x800 meter relay (9:12.94). In addition, she owns the school record for the outdoor 800 meter run (2:09.66). She ranks inside the top four on four additional individual program all-time lists. This past fall Wood earned all-conference recognition and qualified for nationals in cross country.
Wood and her teammates will return to action on Friday at the Prairie Wolf Invite set to unfold inside the Devaney Center in Lincoln. The meet schedule can be viewed HERE.