Nelson To Be BU’s First Representative at NAIA Outdoor Track Championships

Bellevue University will have its first-ever participant in the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships which will be held in Gulf Shores, Alabama between May 25-27. Madison Nelson will represent BU in the half marathon event which will take place on Friday, May 27.

Nelson qualified for the event by meeting the NAIA's "B" time standard back in December at the Midland Half Marathon in Fremont where she covered the 13.1-mile distance in 1:29:29.

"It's a unique event to the NAIA," said BU Head Coach Craig Christians. "It's actually supposed to be the full 26-mile marathon but after heat issues over the past two championships in Gulf Shores, officials including athletic trainers thought it best to shorten it to a half. I think Madison was a bit disappointed with the decision but at the end of the day, it was the right move."

Nelson came very close to qualifying for the national meet in the 10,000 meters, too, running 38:21 at Sioux City in April, just 8 seconds from the "B" standard. "It's a moot point anyway as the NAIA doesn't allow athletes to compete in both the half marathon and an event on the track," said Christians. "The NAIA coaches are looking into creating a separate marathon championship in the future so athletes like Madison can compete in both of those events."

After individual championships at the NSAA cross championships last fall over an extremely challenging course at Platteview Country Club, the 3,000 meters indoors in February where she was also runner-up at 5 kilometers, and then two NSAA outdoor track championships last week in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter races, Nelson is looking forward to capping off a fantastic season and said, "I'm super excited about this chance to compete at nationals. I'm a little nervous about the heat but I've had five months of great training so I think I'm ready to go."

"Madison has established herself as the premier female distance runner in the NSAA in just her first season," added Christians. "What people don't realize is that she works full-time, takes a full-time academic course load online, as well as getting her 60 miles of running done every week. I marvel at her work ethic but she possesses the kind of mental discipline necessary to excel at the longer distances. I don't take any credit for her success. It is all Madison. Coach Barbosa comments to me regularly that she is destined for great things beyond BU and given his background, I don't doubt him."

The race takes place beginning Friday (May 27) morning at 6:00 a.m. Thirty-three women and fifty-one men will take to the starting line for the two-loop course. The top eight finishers will be named NAIA All-Americans. Christians: "To have a qualifier at this meet is a big step for our program. I am so proud of Madison and my goal for her is that she comes away with a great experience that fuels her future running goals."