Many don’t know much about the elite level athletes currently competing who were NAIA athletes, so I thought I would point all the NAIA fans out there in the right direction, and talk about a few who have strarted.

   Jennifer Stuczynski, Roberts Wesleyan (2002-05), kicked off her 2009 campaign with a win at the Millrose games jumping 15-05.5, and followed that up this weekend with a new American record jump of 15-09.75. Anyone who follows track knows who she is but few knew that she competed NAIA or that she has school records for the Roberts Wesleyan basketball team.

   Next on the featured athlete list is Michael Rodgers, Oklahoma Baptist (2007), who picked right up where he left off last year at the U.S. Indoor Championships with with wins at Millrose and Boston. His time of 6.51 sec. at Millrose gave him the fastest time on the world this year.

   Much less known are Rebecca Johnstone and Julia Howard, who both competed for Simon Fraser. Both run the 800 and 1500, and competed in the 800 in the 2008 Canadian Olympic Trials, where Rebecca Johnstone won with a time of 2:03.99. Both athletes opened up their seasons in Washington where Howard won the mile in 4:39.27 and Johnstone was 2nd in the 800 in 2:06.05.
I will have more updates as more athletes begin competing.

-Wiz