MANKATO, Minn. - The final field was set this past weekend for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Geneva, Ohio, and Stephanie Witbrod of the Bethany Lutheran women's team qualified to compete in the shot put. It is the third straight outdoor T&F Championship that she will compete in, but it is the first time she will take part in the shot put. In 2023 and 2024, she competed in the triple jump in Outdoor, while she has twice compete in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships. 

The top 22 athletes nationally qualify for the NCAA meet and Witbrod is in a three-way tie for 21st, but the senior finished second in the tiebreak to earn the last spot into the prestigious meet. 

Hear from the Vikings
Here's what Witbrod and head coach Jakin Anderson had to say about the event.

Witbrod: "I am super excited about this national meet!  This is my last one and my last ever collegiate sporting event ever. I am pretty emotional about it because I don't want it to be over, from all the memories, to the injuries, I wouldn't change anything!  None of it this year would be possible without my teammates and my coaches. I am ready to give it my all in Geneva on Friday and see what I can do at this last meet!"

Anderson: "Super excited for this week. This is Steph's 5th time going to a National Championship meet, which is a phenomenal accomplishment and one that I hope she is proud of. We both know, however, that making it to nationals isn't the goal, that there is still more that both she and I want to get out of this meet for her. The competition is super tough this year for shot put, as this is the highest minimum qualifying mark since 2017, which shows a lot about the field and what was needed to make it. The important thing though is that we have a good week of practice and come ready to go on Friday for the competition and for Steph to compete the way she knows how."

Competition in the shotput will kick off on Friday at 2 p.m.