NEW ORLEANS, La. - On Thursday, February 21, Regional Athletes of the Year for the 2019 NAIA Indoor Track & Field season were announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Kathryn Vander Poel (SR/Bakersfield, Calif.) was named the Midwest Female Indoor Track Athlete of the Year by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches.

Vander Poel earns this national recognition after a record-breaking season upon the indoor track. Vander Poel started her success by first qualifying for the NAIA National Indoor Track and Field Championship in the 1000 Meters clocking a time of 3:00.98, which is good for ninth nationally. She would then qualify in the 600 Meters after being named Heart of America Conference Champion with a time of 1:38.32. Most recently, Vander Poel ranks sixth in the nation for her personal best time in the 800 Meters (2:17.60). This historic performance also broke a Mount Mercy school-record that had previously stood for 22 years.

On Thursday, Feb. 28 through Saturday, March 2, Vander Poel and a handful of other Mustangs will compete in various events at the NAIA National Indoor Track and Field Championship held in Brookings, S.D.