Meet Preview: Faith Track & Field at Viking Classic
Viking Classic |
|
| Date: |
Friday, Apr. 24 |
| Time: |
Field Events - 10:30 a.m. CT | Track Events - 12:30 p.m. CT |
| Location: |
Duke Williams Stadium | Des Moines, IA |
| Expected Forecast: |
68 degrees, mainly cloudy and less humid, 12 mph NW wind |
| Meet Information: | |
Ankeny, IA -- Faith Track & Field is just a short drive away from campus this week as they compete at the Viking Classic in Des Moines on Friday. This marks the final regular season meet in the 2026 outdoor season, and will provide one more opportunity for the Eagles to qualify in their events for the national championship meet taking place May 6-8. Field Events on Friday, April 24th begin at 10:30 a.m, and Track events will start at 12:30 p.m. All events will have live results posted at the link above.
NATIONALS BOUND
Five athletes have qualified for the NCCAA National meet so far in 2026:
- Cade Cooper (Long Jump, Triple Jump)
- Austin Jordan (Long Jump)
- Carlie Blevins (5000m run, 1500m run)
- Codie Wirges (Triple Jump)
- Annika Bauer (400m Hurdles
WEEKEND NOTES
The Viking Classic provides the perfect opportunity for Faith fans to watch the Eagles compete in the area as it is the closest meet this season and the last opportunity for athletes to qualify for NCCAA Nationals.
WHO/WHAT/WHERE
Want to watch the Eagles this week? See what events to keep an eye on below:
Field (Events begin at 10:30 a.m. CT)
- Shot Put - Katie Costello, Luke Akins
- Discus - Sadie Van Der Molen
- Long Jump - Cade Cooper, Austin Jordan
- Triple Jump - Codie Wirges, Cade Cooper
Track (Events begin at 12:30 p.m. CT)
- 100m Hurdles - Sierra Pearson
- 100m Dash - Katie Costello
- 400m Dash - Andrew Shepherd, Gabriella Widman
- 1500m Run - Carlie Blevins
- 400m Hurdles - Annika Bauer, Sierra Pearson
- 800m Run - Carlie Blevins
- 200m Dash - Emily Franklin, Andrew Shepherd
- 4x400 Relay - Annika Bauer, Emily Franklin, Gabriella Widman, Carlie Blevins
LAST TIME OUT - RED RAIDER OPEN
- Cade Cooper and Austin Jordan battled each other in long jump - both set lifetime records while Jordan walked away with the new school record
- Cade Cooper followed his long jump performance with a new personal and program record in triple jump while qualifying for Nationals in his second event of the year
- Four Eagles placed top five in their events over the weekend
FAITH NOTES
- The Eagles exceded expectations in 2025 with countless program and personal records, as well as seven event wins and an excellent showing at NCCAA Nationals.
- Faith will participate in five regular season meets in 2026, starting the season at the Central Invitational on March 28th, and ending with the opportunity to compete at the NCCAA National Championships taking place May 5-8 in Wilmore, Kentucky.
- Faith Track & Field boasts 11 returners, including seven athletes who competed at the NCCAA National Championship meet in 2025: Carlie Blevins (So. | Distance), Katie Costello (So. | Sprints/Throws), Sierra Pearson (So. | Hurdles), Sadie Van Der Molen (So. |Throws), Codie Wirges (Jr. | Jumps/Sprints), Eli Boatman (So. | Throws), Cade Cooper (So. | Jumps/Sprints)
