Day 2 Results | Friday Heat Sheets | Live Results
MARION, Ind. – The Vanguard women's 4x400 relay team advanced to their event finals after day two of the 2023 NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships at Indiana Wesleyan University Thursday.
The quartet of Elizabeth Betten, Brooke Dalgity, Jordyn Burke and Eryn Burke finished with the fifth-fastest time in the prelims, covering the distance in 3:49.82. Competing in heat 2 with six other teams, the Lions crossed the line by nearly a full second over runner-up Dordt (3:50.81). Betten worked through some midseason setbacks to lead off the relay. Dalgity had the second-fastest split, a huge feat considering she had spent eight months recovering from a back injury. Jordyn Burke ran with incredible grit – the 4x400 being her third race of the week – and Eryn Burke took things home. The anchor passed three athletes on the first curve and brought her team to victory with the fastest split.
The 3:49.82 performance ranks No. 2 all-time in VU history, second only to the school record 3:48.40 effort accomplished by Betten, Ariana Rodriguez, Dalgity and Eryn Burke at the Golden State Athletic Conference Championships on April 28. The women's 4x400 meter relay team is the first in school history – either men or women – to qualify for finals at nationals.
Vanguard will race for All-American honors in the 4x400 from lane 4 on Friday at 2:15 p.m. (PT). To accomplish the feat, the Lions must finish in the top eight among the nine-team field.
Eryn Burke also competed in the 400 meter prelims on Thursday. The event school record holder finished 14th overall in 57.38 seconds, placing fourth in the third of three sectionals. Unfortunately, she did not advance to Friday's finals.
Also on the docket for Friday will be Lions in two additional finals besides the 4x400. The 4x100 relay team of Dorothy Jackson, Eryn Burke, Jordyn Burke and Armiyah Johnson will race out of lane 2 at 10:40 a.m. (PT). The Lion foursome clocked 46.23 for the seventh-fastest time in Wednesday's prelims. A top eight finish in the finals will result in All-American status.
Jordyn Burke will be the busiest Lion of all as she competes in the second of three races on the day, taking the track for the finals of the 400 meter hurdles. She will compete from lane 3 after notching the sixth-fastest time (62.40) in Wednesday's prelims. Her race will take place at 12:10 p.m. (PT).
What Was Said?: "Gratitude would be a proper word to describe the mentality of the Lions today," said Associate Head Coach Johnny Deryeghiayen. "Eryn's 400 meter result wasn't what we expected, but she recovered well for the 4x400 relay. We are very proud to witness our students' gratefulness and joyfulness to Jesus to have this opportunity to compete again."
