Evans and Beutler Earn Final NAIA National Women's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week Honors

Evans and Beutler Earn Final NAIA National Women's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week Honors



KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Gayon Evans of Oklahoma Baptist has been named the final NAIA National Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week and Kati Beutler of Bethel (Ind.) has been named the NAIA National Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week, the national office announced Wednesday. Evans and Beutler were selected based on their performances from Feb. 14 - 20.

Evans, hailing from Clarendon, Jamaica, won the 60-meter dash (7.33 seconds) and the 200-meter dash (23.98 seconds) at the University of Nebraska Tune-Up Meet on Feb. 18. The sophomore runner's times in the 60 and 200 both rank as the NAIA's top times heading into the NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field National Championships March 3-5 at the GaREAT Sports Complex in Geneva, Ohio. Evans also ran the third leg of Oklahoma Baptist's meet-winning 4x400-meter relay.

Beutler, hailing from Fort Wayne, Ind., was named the Female Athlete of the Meet at the NCCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships on Feb. 19. The senior took home first place in the triple jump with a mark of 37-5 ¾ and placed second in the long jump with a leap of 18-6. In addition to the field events, she also won the 60-meter dash with a time of 7.78 seconds. Beutler will be one of 16 athletes representing the Lady Pilots at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships.

Track Nominees: Cheryl Held, William Woods (Mo.); Kristine Smith, College of Idaho; Darcy Mascotti, Cumberlands (Ky.); Lyndsay Payne, Siena Heights (Mich.); Michelle Momo, Central Methodist (Mo.); Abby Parson, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Obsie Birru, Grand View (Iowa); Blair Dixon, Doane (Neb.); Lauren Versweyveld, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Sami Andrews, Concordia (Ore.); Stephanie Kenney, Taylor (Ind.); Marya Haegler, Ave Maria (Fla.); Erin Curran, Black Hills State (S.D.); Amy VanHal, Trinity Christian (Ill.); Alma Garcilazo, Eastern Oregon; Cassidy Wagner, Indiana Wesleyan; Adella King, Indiana Tech; Irene Masai, Oklahoma Christian; Charity Miles, Northwestern (Iowa); Crystal Bardge, Embry-Riddle (Fla.).

Field Nominees: Whitney Burton, William Woods (Mo.); Natausha Burke, Cumberlands (Ky.); Lenzey Stidham, Siena Heights (Mich.); Kate Fulton, Central Methodist (Mo.); Naomi Patrnchak, St. Ambrose (Iowa); Lauryn Camp, Grand View (Iowa); Jillian Ourada, Doane (Neb.); Caitlin McPherson, Olivet Nazarene (Ill.); Alaina Yaracz, Black Hills State (S.D.); Kirsten Harms, Trinity Christian (Ill.); Anne Barnett, Eastern Oregon; Katelin Morgan, Indiana Wesleyan; Sarah Dede, Judson (Ill.); Cora Tatum, Indiana Tech; Denise Mattoon, Oklahoma Christian; Kayla Xavier, Concordia (Ore.); Reta Woodard, Embry-Riddle (Fla.).

2011 Composite Award Winners (Track; Field) (Schedule)
Week 1: Blair Dixon, Doane (Neb.); Brittany Hoins, Hastings (Neb.)
Week 2: Stacy Warrior, Oklahoma Baptist; Megan Manning, St. Ambrose (Iowa)
Week 3: Verone Chambers, Oklahoma Baptist; Brigitte Gross, Sioux Falls (S.D.)
Week 4: Adella King, Indiana Tech; Milika Tuivanuavou, Fresno Pacific (Calif.)
Week 5: Verone Chambers, Oklahoma Baptist; Tamala Daley, Shorter (Ga.)
Week 6: Obsie Birru, Grand View (Iowa); Bianca Grant, Wayland Baptist (Texas)
Week 7: Gayon Evans, Oklahoma Baptist; Kati Beutler, Bethel (Ind.)