GREENSBORO, N.C. – For the second-straight outdoor track and field season,
Esther Seeland has captured a National Championship in the 800 Meter. Seeland clinched her second National Crown in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday afternoon, turning in a top time of 2:02.52 in the event, a new NCAA DIII National Championship Meet record.
Brody Beiler competed in the men's 800 Meter Finals on Saturday, earning a sixth-place finish in his first-career NCAA DIII Finals event. After earning a time of 1:52.41 in the preliminaries yesterday, Beiler turned in a time of 1:54.09 on Saturday to claim All-American honors.
In addition to representing the Falcons on the national stage, Seeland and Beiler each earn All-American nods for finishing in the top-eight of the 800 Meter. Seeland earns her second-consecutive All-American honor as Beiler claims his first as a Falcon. With the two All-American nods, Messiah track and field has totaled 54 All-Americans (12 indoor, 42 outdoor) in program history.
Seeland is now just the third athlete in Messiah Athletics history to win multiple individual National Championships (Kristen Bates (track and field) – three,
Lucas Malmberg (wrestling) – two).
The Championship from Seeland is the 13th individual National Champion in Messiah athletics history. As a department, Messiah now has 32 total National Championships, including 13 individual National Champions. For Messiah track and field, Seeland's 2021 title is the eighth in program history (two men's titles and six women's titles).
Esther Seeland – National Champion – 800 Meters – 2:02.52
Entering the event as the heavy favorite, Seeland did not disappoint, claiming her National Championship in runaway fashion. Seeland crossed the line in 2:02.52, setting a new personal-best mark in the event by nearly half a second (2:02.75). The junior began the race in lane six, trailing SUNY Geneseo's Emily Pomainville for the first 100 meters of the race.
On the first straightaway, Seeland made her move, darting ahead of Pomainville and never looked back. Seeland did not let up, pacing the pack for the remaining 700 meters of the race. After turning in an opening split of nearly one-minute flat (1:00.69), Seeland cruised the second lap in 1:01.84, crossing the line for her second individual National Championship for Messiah in as many attempts at the NCAA DIII National Outdoor Meet.
Emily Pomainville (SUNY Geneseo) was the only other runner in the event to break the 2:10.0 barrier, finishing in 2:05.46 to take second place, nearly three seconds behind Seeland's winning time.
In addition to her two women's track and field titles, Seeland was also a starting defender on the Messiah women's soccer team that claimed the 2019 NCAA Division III National Championship. In her three years in Grantham, Seeland now has three National Championships to her name.
As mentioned, the winning time of 2:02.52 set a new NCAA DIII National Championship Meet Record, while also lowering the program and MAC records that she already held.
Brody Beiler – Sixth-Place – 800 Meters – 1:54.09
Beiler entered Saturday's men's 800 Meter final after qualifying with a time of 1:52.41. Competing in his first-ever NCAA DIII finals event, Beiler fell just short of besting that mark, but earned himself an All-American honor with a sixth-place finish.
Beginning the race in the eighth lane, Beiler turned in a strong opening lap with a split of 57.68. Beiler hung in the back of the pack for the opening 200 meters of the race, making a strong move towards the front of the pack coming onto the second straightaway. Beiler put himself in first with a quick burst, leading all competitors heading into the final lap of the 800 Meter race. With an opening split of 57.68, Beiler followed up with a second lap of 56.40, earning his time of 1:54.09. Loras' Mike Jasa topped all competition, crossing the line in 1:51.66.
Team Standings
With Seeland earning 10 points with her victory in the 800 Meter, Messiah earned a three-team tie for 17th-place with St. Thomas (Minn.) and Southern Maine. In the men's standings, Beiler picked up three points with his sixth-place finish, giving Messiah a three-team tie for 55th-place with Central College and Nebraska Wesleyan.
