3 Trojans set to compete at national meet

HOBBS, N.M. - The NIACC women's track and field team will compete in three events at the NJCAA Division I championships Thursday through Saturday at the Ross Black Field of Champions on the New Mexico Junior College campus.

NIACC sophomore Madelyn Wilson will compete in the hammer at 2 p.m. (CDT) on Thursday.

NIACC freshman Tara Backhaus will run the 100-meter hurdles prelimiaries at 1:40 p.m. (CDT) Friday. The Trojans' sophomore Jordan Swenson will compete in the high jump at 3 p.m. (CDT) Friday.

Wilson, who prepped at Waterloo West, owns a personal best toss of 117 feet, 5 inches in the hammer, which placed her ninth at the NJCAA Region 11 championships.

Wilson improved her toss each time out during her sophomore season in the hammer.

Wilson threw 103-11 at the Grand View Viking Relays (3-25-23), threw 116-5 at Mount Mercy's DeBacker Invitational (4-21-23) and then threw 117-5 at the regional meet (5-7-23). The 117-5 is tied for the 10th best hammer throw in school history.

Backhaus, who prepped at Mason City High, clocked a personal best time of 16.75 in the 100 hurdles at the Grand View Viking Relays in April. The 16.75 is tied for fourth on the school's all-time 100-meter hurdles list.

Swenson, who prepped at West Fork, will be competing in her second national meet in the high jump. She placed 13th at the 2022 national indoor meet with a leap of 5-1 1/4.

Swenson owns a personal best outdoor leap of 5-2 1/2 at the 2023 regional meet where she placed third. The 5-2 1/2 is tied for fifth on the school's all-time outdoor high jump list.