Gulf Shores, Alabama – Former Orab and Morningside Senior Kati Kneifl was not going to be denied and won the women’s javelin championship at the NAIA National Track and Field Championships Thursday afternoon.
With a third and final opportunity to claim a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ championship in the javelin, a midseason shoulder injury was the last thing on the Sheldon, Iowa native’s mind, as she took to the runway at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium.
“I knew coming in today that I was going to give my all no matter how much it might hurt … the adrenaline would carry me through,” the two-time All-American and top two finisher said. “I’m very proud of how things turned out. This entire process has been about the fact that you can do anything you want if you put your mind to it. I never figured on throwing in college, but with the hard work that was put in, I’ll never forget (the experience).”
Kneifl won with a heave of 47.86 meters/157 feet.
Kneifl broke her own previous school record which was a javelin toss of 154 feet, six inches set earlier this season at Doane College’s Jim Dutcher Memorial.
Kati was runner up in the javelin in 2018, and finished 13th in 2017.
Throughout the 2019 outdoor season, Kneifl consistently found herself atop the podium with first place finishes in the javelin, such as the GPAC Conference Meet, the Mount Marty Twilight, Doane College’s Jim Dutcher Memorial, The Sioux City Relays, The Dordt College Invitational, and the BVU Outdoors just to name a few.
The road for Morningside College’s first male or female national throwing champion was anything but easy. Freshman Alex Conley of Oregon Tech was on the Mustang standout’s heels throughout. However, assistant and head throws coach Stan Simpson knew the senior wasn’t about to let go of the chance in front of her.
“Kati’s always been a competitor,” he noted. “She showed that today. Conley kept coming after her with every attempt, but I knew if she could hit over 47 meters, she’d be in great shape. The last throw of prelims was the answer (hitting 47.86 meters for a school-record 157-foot even mark).”
“We had to take things slow (with the injury),” he added. “We had to get here first which was met with the best qualifying effort. From that point, it was mainly lifting and getting the rest of her body ready to go (for nationals). We worked on her timing … not too many big throws in practices and competing in one more meet before coming here. I could tell practicing before the competition today that she was ready to go. I knew what we had, in her, as a freshman. She got to nationals three times and easily could have been a three-time All-American. It was great to be part of this process (with Kati), as it’s my first experience to work with a national champion.”
National champion!!!!!!!!!!! She did it!! 47.8 meter heave wins @katikneifl3 the Javelin National Title!!!! She just made Morningside History!!!! Unbelievable!!! pic.twitter.com/YQ0pFrdFmj
— Morningside Track (@Mside_Track) May 23, 2019
Photos Courtesy of Joe Nilles
