Steiner, Gifford, and Meister qualify to 2020 NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championships

Indianapolis, Ind. – The qualifiers to the 2020 NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championships were announced Sunday, March 8. From the University of Wisconsin – Platteville track and field team, three Pioneers qualified to the national championships; Noah Steiner, Charlie Gifford, and Johanna Meister.

March 9, 2020

Indianapolis, Ind. – The qualifiers to the 2020 NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championships were announced Sunday, March 8. From the University of Wisconsin – Platteville track and field team, three Pioneers qualified to the national championships; Noah Steiner, Charlie Gifford, and Johanna Meister.

In the men's and women's individual events, the top 20 declared student-athletes in the country are accepted into the competition. In the case of relays, the top 12 declared relay teams, with one per institution, are accepted to the indoor national championships.

Noah Steiner – High Jump

Senior Noah Steiner (Monticello, IA) qualified in the men's high jump with a season best mark of 2.07m (6-9.5) at the UW-Platteville Invitational on February 1. Steiner is tied with the tenth best mark going into the indoor national championships.

Steiner returns to the indoor national championships after having qualified in 2018 and 2019. In 2018, Steiner finished in 13^th place with a jump of 1.97m (6-5.5). In 2019, Steiner placed third and became an All-American clearing 2.09m (6-10.25).

Charlie Gifford – 60-meter Hurdles

Also tied with the tenth best time going into the men's 60-meter hurdles at the indoor national championships is senior Charlie Gifford (Menasha, WI). Gifford ran 8.13 seconds in the 60-meter hurdles at the UW-Platteville Qualifying Meet to secure his spot at the indoor championships.

Gifford is returning to his second indoor national championships after having qualified in 2019 in the 60-meter hurdles. After an unusually sloppy race in 2019, Gifford became an All-American taking seventh place in the 60-meter hurdles.

Johanna Meister – 800-meter

Qualifying in the women's 800-meter run is senior Johanna Meister (Darlington, WI). Meister ran an indoor personal best time of 2:14.85 at the Wartburg Qualifier on March 7 to solidify her spot at the 2020 indoor national championships. Meister is coming in with the 12^th fastest time in the event.

Meister ran in the 800-meter at the 2019 indoor national championships, where she finished in tenth place with a time of 2:14.89.

The Pioneers will be traveling to Winston-Salem, North Carolina to compete at the JDL Fast Track for the 2020 NCAA DIII Indoor Track and Field Championships. Hosting the meet will be Guilford College in conjunction with Visit Winston-Salem.