ASHEVILLE, NC – TWU's Claire Nichol, who captured silver in the heptathlon at the Cascade Collegiate Conference Championships, finished 14th overall in the seven-event competition with 4,379 points to lead the Spartans women's team at the NAIA Track & Field Championships Thursday.

Nichol's two-day point total was just 18 points shy of the TWU record she set at the CCC Championships. 

On the men's side for TWU, David Mutai was the Spartans top finisher on Thursday with a 10th-place finish in the 10,000m at the Karl Straus Track. 

Mutai crossed the line in 31:02.06 in a race that was originally to be run on Wednesday but was postponed until late Thursday due to weather conditions. The race eventually started at 9:58 p.m. (ET) on Thursday. 

The Spartans Malcolm Reid qualified for the 3000m steeplechase final after he finished third in his heat in 9:23.32. Reid, whose preliminary race as also postponed from Thursday to Friday will run in the 3000m steeplechase final at 2:45 p.m. (ET) on Friday. 

Alongside Reid's steeplechase final, Friday's schedule will also see Eileen Noordam compete in javelin at 1:00pm (ET) and both Yemane Mulugeta and Justin Kiplagat run in the 5000m at 4:45 p.m. (ET).

TWU Results at NAIA Championships

Men's Results 
200m 
17th – Danny Earles – 21.65 

3000m Steeplechase
12th – Malcolm Reid – 9:23.32Q

10,000m
10th – David Mutai – 31:02.06

Women's Results
Heptathlon
14th – Claire Nichol – 4379 points
100m Hurdles
12th – Claire Nichol – 15.31
High Jump
6th – Claire Nichol – 1.57m
Shot Put 
15th – Claire Nichol – 8.43m
200m
15th – Claire Nichol – 27.04 
Long Jump
8th – Claire Nichol – 5.21m
Javelin
14th – Claire Nichol – 24.63m 
800m
5th – Claire Nichol – 2:25.56

Hammer Throw
27th – Sarah Ude – 43.89m

Long Jump
7th – Sheleena Wiley – 5.79m 

About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby and women's and men's disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 15 U SPORTS team championships and 35 Canada West team championships.

About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and wins national championships in CIS sports. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.  

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