KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Senior Nicholas Hestand of Evangel and senior Kiefer Smith of Central Methodist were named the Heart of America Athletic Conference Men's Indoor Track and Field Athletes of the Week on Monday morning.
Hestand wasted little time booking his place at the NAIA Men's Indoor Track and Field Championships, which will be staged March 1-3 at GaREAT Sports Complex in Geneva, Ohio. The native of Lee's Summitt, Missouri clocked a time of 15:00.58 in the 5,000 meters at the Missouri Southern State University Invitational. He finished in 2nd place in the event, but was the top collegiate finisher in the field.
Smith began his final collegiate campaign at the Snowbird Open at Illinois College. Returning to his home state as a native of Collinsville, Smith cleared 4.13 meters in the pole vault to claim top spot in the event to give the Eagles 10 points toward a 2nd place finish.
Hestand and Smith will represent the conference in the running for the weekly NAIA Men's Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week awards, which will be announced no later than Tuesday afternoon.
