Izabelle Trefts Brings Home The First NAIA National Championship in School History
Brookings, SD- For the first time in school history, Columbia College has an NAIA National Champion.
Sophomore Izabelle Trefts (Milford, ME) is the 2023 NAIA Women's 3000-Meter Race Walk National Champion with a time of 14:31.74.
Trefts wasn't the only Koala on the podium, as three other teammates placed in the top-5 of the event. Senior Victoria Heiser-Whatley (15:31.67) came in second, while Freshman Ainhoa Colino (15:45.63) and Senior Jessica Heiser-Whatley (16:08.76) came in fourth and fifth, respectively. With their finish, all four earn All-American status. Victoria Heiser-Whatley is now a four-time indoor track All-American. Jessica Heiser-Whatley was also awarded an NAIA National Champions of Character Award at the annual banquet.
Trefts culminates an impressive sophomore campaign atop the podium again; she also recently took home the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) 3000m Race Walk Championship by setting a facility record and AAC record with a time of 14:20.30 at the JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.
Trefts, on the race
"It was a hard race, but I felt really comfortable... My form felt really good, and my pacing was much better than it had been the whole season."
On her goals for the next indoor track season
"I hope to be a champion again and get sub 14:00 for my time."
Head coach Justin Bishop on bringing home the first NAIA National Champion in Columbia College history
"Obviously, it feels pretty good ... A lot of hard work from everyone involved, coaches, Izabelle herself, teammates ... It feels awesome."
On what comes next for the Columbia Race Walk program
"Get more kids in; hopefully, word gets out that we are the best race walk program in the country. We want to build up the men's side next year. The goal is to bring in kids from all over the high school ranks and keep investing in the program."
The Koalas will find out tomorrow evening where they finish as a team. Stay tuned to gokoalas.com and all Columbia College Athletics social media accounts for updates.