Raider track and field is in full swing, with the team competing at Buena Vista University and Concordia over the past two weeks. Encouraging results and broken records continue to be a common theme for the season – the Raiders took the top spots in fourteen events at Buena Vista and in six events at Concordia.
Senior Grant Palmer has enjoyed a string of victories and top three finishes over the past few meets. At Concordia, he captured the 200m win, a race that saw three Raiders in the top four. As part of the winning 4x400m relay, he also set a new indoor program record. While the results bring confidence, Palmer is focused on more than just performances.
“Obviously I have some big goals as far as making nationals and aiming for All-American, as well as scoring as many points as I can for the team in conference, but I think my biggest goal is to remember how blessed I am to run with the people I get to everyday,” Palmer said. “I also want to be there for my teammates in every way I can, not just running for them, but any advice I can give or anything I can do for them in or outside of track.”
Freshman Carly Dunn has also made her mark this indoor season, with two wins and a runner-up finish in 60m events.
“So far in my first collegiate season of track, I have enjoyed every part of being on the track team,” Dunn said. “I feel like it has been a great start for me as a freshman.”
Palmer and Dunn have both posted personal best times in 2026, and at the Concordia Classic last Saturday, over 30 Raiders improved on their previous best marks.
After an impressive freshman season a year ago, Sophomore Tierney Huss has returned with multiple top three finishes across the short sprints, despite a quick turnaround after the volleyball season.
“I am working towards getting conditioned the best I can coming from volleyball and am getting some personal bests which has been huge for me,” Huss said. She believes once she is fully reconditioned and healthy, she will be able to reach her goals of qualifying for nationals. “The challenging part is showing up and doing the workouts while knowing that my times haven’t been what I’ve been hoping for, but the rewarding part is the time I get to spend with my teammates.”
The Raiders compete next at the Wildcat Invite in Wayne, NE on Feb. 6.
