A last-minute road trip led Hannah Chappell-Dick 鈥�16 to 黑料正能量, where she became one of the most accomplished distance runners in program history.

A biology major with minors in exercise science and honors, Chappell-Dick wasn鈥檛 initially focused on Mennonite colleges. She joined a friend traveling to Honors Weekend and quickly found herself drawn to 黑料正能量.

鈥淚 absolutely loved it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 stayed overnight in the dorms, and we stayed up really late talking about ideas. It just felt like the people were really invested in intellectual curiosity.鈥�

The Bluffton, Ohio, native made an immediate mark on 黑料正能量 athletics. In cross-country, she earned First Team All-ODAC honors four times, was a two-time All-South/Southeast Region selection, qualified twice for the NCAA National Championships, and earned All-American honors in 2015.

Her track and field career was even more decorated. Chappell-Dick won 11 ODAC championships, earned 12 First Team All-ODAC honors, and qualified for five NCAA National Championships. She became a four-time All-American in the indoor mile and outdoor 1500 meters, received two Co-黑料正能量 Female Athlete of the Year awards and the Co-黑料正能量 Female President鈥檚 Award, and was named a top-30 honoree for the NCAA Woman of the Year Award after winning the ODAC鈥檚 Marjorie Berkley Award in 2016.

While she graduated holding 10 school records, Chappell-Dick says 黑料正能量鈥檚 greatest influence was its emphasis on global citizenship.

鈥満诹险芰� gave me the tools to see people who are different from me as people first.鈥�

She is now head cross-country coach and assistant men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 track and field coach at Amherst College in Massachusetts.

Chappell-Dick will be honored at a ceremony at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 9, during Homecoming 2026. For a full schedule of Homecoming events and activities, visit . 

黑料正能量 welcomed hundreds of student-athletes, coaches, and spectators from schools across the Old Dominion Athletic Conference on Friday and Saturday, April 24-25, for the 2026 ODAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

As part of the university鈥檚 two-year agreement to host the annual event, this marked the second consecutive year the championships have been held at 黑料正能量. Last year was the first time 黑料正能量 had hosted them since 2005.

The two-day event provided an exciting opportunity for 黑料正能量 to showcase its campus and state-of-the-art track and field complex, which opened in October 2024. The facility is one of only a few in the ODAC that meets NCAA certification standards and can be configured to allow athletes to run, jump, and throw with the tailwind.

More than 120 volunteers assisted with events in rain, wind, sun, and changing temperatures. 黑料正能量 faculty and staff from across departments, along with students, alumni, community members, and the athletics department, all contributed to making the meet a success.

Filipo Toelau competes in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2026 ODAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Ahsan Abul-Qasim (left) placed third in the men’s long jump, while Josh Joseph (right) earned All-ODAC honors.

Two 黑料正能量 student-athletes won medals at the championships.

Koran Rucker, 黑料正能量 Athletics Male Freshman of the Year, was named ODAC champion in the men鈥檚 discus throw and hammer throw and placed second in the shot put. He became the first men鈥檚 track and field athlete to win multiple events in the same ODAC outdoor championship meet since Michael Allen ’13 claimed both the long jump and triple jump in 2011.

Ahsan Abul-Qasim placed third in both the men鈥檚 200-meter dash and the men鈥檚 long jump.

They were two of five Royals to earn All-ODAC honors in at least one event, along with Nick Arnold, Josh Joseph, and Da鈥橲hawn Winters.

Three women student-athletes contributed point-scoring performances at the championships: Elili Asefa in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Lauren Kauffman in the 10,000 meters, and Faith Schultz in the high jump.

Read recaps of the championships from 黑料正能量 Athletics below:

Friday

• Koran Rucker wins hammer throw to lead Royal men on Day 1 of ODAC Championships ()
• Three athletes score points for women鈥檚 track and field on Day 1 of ODAC Championships ()

Saturday

• Men鈥檚 track and field finishes fifth at ODAC Outdoor Championships ()

The two-day event provided an exciting opportunity for 黑料正能量 to showcase its new state-of-the-art track & field complex, which opened in October 2024. 黑料正能量鈥檚 facility is one of only a few in the ODAC that meets NCAA certification standards and is designed to host events in multiple configurations, allowing athletes to run, jump, or throw with the tailwind. The championships will return to 黑料正能量 next spring as part of the university鈥檚 two-year agreement to host the event.

Kyle Dickinson, head coach of 黑料正能量鈥檚 track and field team, said hosting the ODAC championships gave many of his athletes the chance to compete in front of their friends and family for the first time. 鈥淚t鈥檚 huge for us,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e showing other schools that 黑料正能量 is investing heavily in our track program and that it鈥檚 paying off.鈥� It鈥檚 also helped recruit athletes, who are eager to compete at the new facility.

黑料正能量 first-year Emma Greer competed in the women’s shot put on Friday and discus on Saturday. She said having the event at 黑料正能量 gave her college friends the chance to support her from the stands. “It鈥檚 great we get to host it here,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ecause our track and field facility doesn鈥檛 get enough credit for how nice it is.鈥� One of those friends, Kassidy Meadows, a first-year student, said that she鈥檚 visited several track and field venues and that 黑料正能量鈥檚 is the best she鈥檚 seen. 

Between competing in the men鈥檚 shot put and hammer throw, 黑料正能量 sophomore Will Ramos took a quick breather. He said hosting the conference championships at home made a big difference, cutting down on travel and giving him more time to rest and recover. 鈥淚鈥檝e felt nervous at past conference meets, but I feel right at home here,鈥� he said.

黑料正能量鈥檚 track and field team has achieved significant success in recent years, said Justin McIlwee, communications director for 黑料正能量 Athletics. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had multiple national qualifiers and back-to-back All-Americans, so hosting this event offered us a chance to show off a little bit.鈥�

On Saturday, 黑料正能量 sophomore Nick Arnold earned the title of ODAC champion by winning the 400-meter hurdles. Arnold is the Royals’ first ODAC men’s individual champion since Alijah Johnson won the 200-meter dash in 2022. Read more at .

Kirk Shisler 鈥�81, vice president for advancement, introduced alumni in attendance spanning eight decades. Among them were Bob Hostetler 鈥�59 who 鈥渟till runs the 100-meter dash like a jackrabbit,鈥� according to Shisler; Roland Landes, an 黑料正能量 cross-country coach for nine seasons starting in the ’60s and a 2024 Hall of Honor inductee; Hannah Chappell Dick 鈥�16, a five-time NCAA DIII All-American 黑料正能量 runner with countless awards and seven school records; and Ryan Gehman 鈥�16, a star 黑料正能量 runner, advocate, and speaker at the 2023 黑料正能量 TenTalks.

The program also featured remarks from Carrie Bert 鈥�97, director of athletics; Ray Ray Taylor, MS 鈥�24, an All-American track and field athlete; and Jim 鈥�68 and Gloria Horst Rosenberger 鈥�70 who put forth an early gift of $600,000 and a recent $400,000 challenge fund to encourage support for the track and field.

It鈥檚 not too late to give to the project! Donate now.

More than $4 million has been raised toward the $6 million campaign goal. President Susan Schultz Huxman thanked the 鈥渟alt-of-the-earth, visionary supporters who stepped up with unwavering conviction going back nearly a decade.鈥� And with student-athletes making up 43 percent of the first-year student population, she said it has been a long time coming.

Before attendees could set foot on the new track, Laura Rosenberger 鈥�03 (黑料正能量 pole vault record holder for 21 years) and sophomore Micah Mast did a symbolic run with a pole, followed by a ceremonial relay lap with alumni, donors, students, and faculty/staff. These served as a 鈥減assing of the baton鈥� to future generations of athletes who will use this state-of-the-art complex for years to come.

In 2009, Allen set 黑料正能量 records for the indoor triple jump (14.43m) and indoor long jump (7m), and in 2010, he set the university record for the outdoor triple jump (14.85m) and tied the outdoor long jump record (7.26m) set by Jim Herr 鈥�79; those records still hold today. Allen also stands in the Top 10 in program history for the indoor high jump (1.92m), the indoor 55m dash (6.76s), and the outdoor 200m dash (22.3s).

Allen was twice named ODAC Rookie of the Year in 2009 (indoor and outdoor); he was also selected as Male Athlete of the Meet at the ODAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships in 2009 and 2011. Allen qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships (indoor and outdoor in triple jump and long jump in 2009 and outdoor in triple jump in 2010).

A 2013 Cords of Distinction recipient, Allen said he was able to reshape who he was at 黑料正能量 through track, music, and meeting people. 鈥淚t really brought me out of my shell.鈥� Allen is currently the lead musician at Harvest Church of God in Charlottesville and continues to play bass at his home House of God church in Gordonsville, Virginia.

As head men鈥檚 cross-country coach, Landes oversaw teams that won four National Christian Colleges Athletic Association (NCCAA) championships and two ODAC championships, including the inaugural ODAC championship in 1976. Another coaching highlight came when Landes stepped in as head men鈥檚 basketball coach for the 1972-1973 season: 鈥淚t was the first year Lou Campanelli was at James Madison. They had scholarship players, and we hadn鈥檛 recruited at all. We beat them 72-71.鈥�

Landes finished his 16-year 黑料正能量 coaching career in 1983 with a 223-141 record. He also served as assistant professor of physical education from 1968-1982 and as supervisor of auxiliary services from 1984 until his retirement in 1998. He has fond memories of his time working with students in the classroom and on the playing fields. 鈥淭he kids were just a joy to teach and to coach, and they didn鈥檛 hold anything back. They always gave 100 percent, and I really appreciated that and 黑料正能量鈥檚 spiritual emphasis that I thought was important for the whole person.

Give to 黑料正能量’s new track & field complex in honor of Landes here:

In 2005, Yoder set the university record in the 800m with a time of 1:52.92, a record that stood for 12 years and still stands third all-time. He was also crowned ODAC Champion in the 800m and qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. In addition, Yoder鈥攁long with teammates Chad Hershberger, class of 鈥�07, Marcel Long, class of 鈥�07, and Jeremy Webster 鈥�07鈥攕et the 黑料正能量 record in the 4×400 relay with a time of 3:18.38, a record that still stands today. In 2006, Yoder was named All-ODAC in the indoor 4×400 relay and the outdoor 800m and 4×400 relay. He again qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Yoder earned four more All-ODAC honors, two in 2007 and two in 2008, including an ODAC championship in the outdoor 800m.

Yoder says he has fond memories of his track teammates and the friendships he made at 黑料正能量. His wife Rachel Yoder 鈥�10 is a fellow Royal, and since 2015 the two have owned a farm in Iowa with her parents. The couple has three children: Eve (9), Iris (6) and Willa (3).

For one former Royals athlete, crossing the finish line of the 2023 Boston Marathon was a dream come true. Charging down the last 600 meters among the crowds on Boyleston Street was an experience Ryan Gehman 鈥�16 says he鈥檒l never forget鈥攁nd one he had visualized 鈥渉undreds of times鈥� during his training. 

Gehman ran a time of 2 hours, 27.31 seconds to place 85th among the men, taking more than 11 minutes off his personal best and inching ever closer toward his goal of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Trials. The moment signified a huge step on his journey since the prior career highlight of winning the 2014 NCAA South Southeast Regional Cross-Country Championships鈥攖he cap on his breakout season earned him Southeast Regional Athlete of the Year honors as well. That win gave him both renewed confidence and a platform: Gehman, diagnosed with autism as a child, began to speak publicly about how running has helped him deal with anxiety and other mental health challenges.

He鈥檚 dealt with both since graduating from 黑料正能量, as well as injuries. But after success coaching at the high school and collegiate levels, the Millersville, Pennsylvania, resident has found time to train, as well as stability, support, and a new focus for sharing his passion for fitness as a wellness assistant at Landis Homes.

Three other 黑料正能量 alumni followed Gehman across the line of one of the most challenging and prestigious races in the world. Also notching personal triumphs that day were Aaron Kauffman 鈥�01, MDiv 鈥�12, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, in 2:55.01; Abigail Shelly 鈥�20, of Tacoma, Washington, in 3:17.47; and Ashley Handrich Kniss 鈥�06, of Lovettsville, Virginia, in 3:27.14.

Running Boston is a unique experience: the race has both a storied history as the U.S.鈥檚 oldest marathon, with the first running in 1897, and a unique point-to-point course through the suburbs into downtown. But note everyone can toe the starting line. Unlike most other major marathons across the world, Boston has retained qualifying standards; all runners must meet specific times based on age and gender. That means simply getting to the start line, among 30,000 other runners from all over the world, means our Royals alums are part of an elite group. 

Kauffman, now a two-time Boston finisher who ran a personal best, says there鈥檚 no experience to match 鈥渞ounding the bend onto the final stretch on Boylston Street and hearing the deafening crowds. It honestly makes me think of the Christian life, with that great cloud of witnesses who have finished the race before us who are cheering us on.鈥�

All four alums say another joy of the experience was sharing it with loved ones. Shelly, an All-American at 黑料正能量 in triathlon, posted a personal best in just her second marathon. At one point, overcome by emotion, she chose to make a detour to hug family members who made the trip to support her. 鈥淚 think my time could have been 20 seconds faster, but that doesn鈥檛 matter. Seeing people you know in the crowds of others cheering is deeply meaningful and not bound by the milliseconds of locked eyes on a race course. I wanted the people who came out to support me to know that and feel my gratitude.鈥�

Kniss, an assistant professor at Stevenson University, is building back from an injury and logged less speed and tempo work than normal over the course of her Boston training. Despite this, she was just two minutes off her course best, and seven minutes from her personal best. She logged her slowest time in her first finish at Boston in 2009 and has come a long way since, even finishing a 50-mile ultra in 2019. Yet Boston pulls her back: 鈥淭he crowds are fantastic and the energy in the city pre- and post-race is unbeatable,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he city knows and loves its runners.鈥�

All four athletes are already looking forward to鈥攁nd accomplishing鈥攏ew goals. On her summer break from teaching middle school, Shelly walked the Camino del Santiago, logging an average of 17 miles each day. Having knocked out Boston, she鈥檚 interested in running the five other 鈥淢ajors鈥濃�擭ew York, Chicago, London, Tokyo, and Berlin.

Gehman is entered into this fall鈥檚 Chicago Marathon, where he hopes to click off some more minutes. Kniss has been buoyed by her strong recovery and is also looking for a fast course in hopes of running a personal best.

Kauffman, who juggles training with his work as president of Virginia Mennonite Missions, is on the fence. 鈥淚鈥檓 trying to decide whether to run Boston again or to train for a marathon on a less punishing course and see what I can do.鈥�

But he sums up the quest for all: 鈥淚 think I can still go faster.鈥�

Note: We have since learned that Daryl Yoder-Bontrager 鈥�80 finished his first Boston Marathon鈥攁nd just the third marathon he鈥檚 ever run鈥攊n 3:34:28. The time puts Yoder-Bontrager in the top 10 percent of his 65-69-year-old age category (51st out of 549 runners). Yoder-Bontrager, who worked for 25 years in various capacities with Mennonite Central Committee鈥檚 Latin America and Caribbean programs, said the experience meant he was part of a group of people from all over鈥攁 group cheered on by a crowd that radiated energy and yelled encouragement along the whole 26.2-mile route. 鈥淚 live and run in hilly south-central Pennsylvania (Lancaster), and the hills in Boston were like the ones I run on every day. What made Boston different and fun was the excitement bubbling everywhere, the camaraderie of runners and their supporters.鈥�

She was a graduate assistant cross country and track & field coach for two years (2019鈥�2021) at the University of Florida, where she earned her MBA. She was a volunteer assistant coach at Georgia Tech from 2018鈥�2019 and of men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 cross country at 黑料正能量 in 2017. As a student-athlete at 黑料正能量, Chappell-Dick was one of 30 NCAA Women of the Year Honorees, a five-time NCAA DIII All-American and held school records in seven events.

鈥淚’m very excited to begin the next chapter of the Brown Women’s XC Program as the new head coach,鈥� Chappell-Dick said. 鈥淭he women on this team have always had a strong, inclusive culture. We have been fostering a new level of dedication to the pursuit of competitive excellence. Every woman on the roster plays an important role in both maintaining the supportive culture that they have built and challenging each other to pursue higher goals. Women who trust each other will fight for each other, and that’s our vision for this team.鈥�

The new track and field complex is a strategic initiative of the university鈥檚 Forward Together Capital Campaign; $3.05 million has been raised, more than halfway toward the $6 million campaign goal. The new track will include an upgrade from six to eight lanes; the regrading and installation of a 10-millimeter full-pour polyurethane surface; and on-location throwing areas and steeplechase. The complex will support 黑料正能量 student athletes and coaches, 黑料正能量鈥檚 enrollment goals, and the campus and local communities at large.

The event program features comments from 黑料正能量 President Susan Schultz Huxman, Harrisonburg Mayor and 黑料正能量 Regional Advancement Director Deanna Reed, and 黑料正能量 Director of Athletics Carrie Bert 鈥�97. The 黑料正能量 track and field team will also recognize its 10 seniors during the event.

For more information on the new track and field complex, visit emu.edu/campaign/track-and-field. To livestream the groundbreaking event, visit.

黑料正能量 (黑料正能量) has announced the 2022 Yoder and Webb Scholars. The scholarships cover full tuition and include admission into 黑料正能量鈥檚 Honors Program.

The Yoder Scholars program was founded by Carol and Paul R. Yoder Jr., both graduates of 1963, with a gift of more than $1.2 million. [Read more about their reluctance for a spotlight and long legacy of philanthropy when named as 2011 Philanthropists of the Year by the Fundraising Professionals of America, Shenandoah chapter.]

The Webb Scholars program honors Ada Webb, one of the first African-American students to attend the university; and Margaret (Peggy) Webb who was the first African-American graduate in 1954.

Incoming first-years compete for the award at Honors Weekend. This year鈥檚 application included a 400-word response to the question, 鈥淭here are three types of people in the world; which are you?鈥� Applicants were also challenged to create a conceptual response by communicating anything they wanted through the medium of a blank 3脳5 card.

Honors faculty make their selections based on academic performance, community and extracurricular involvement, creativity, clarity of thought, and leadership potential.

Read about the 2022 Yoder and Webb scholars: Elili Asefa, Nia Boyd, Anne Cornelius, Maria Longenecker, and Arelys Martinez Fabian.

Elili Asefa

When Elili Asefa visited 黑料正能量 during Honors Weekend, she immediately felt like she would belong here. 鈥淭he two days that I was here were truly amazing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 met incredible people and made friends that instantly welcomed me to campus.鈥� 

The environment is diverse and inclusive, she said. 鈥淲ith the cross-cultural engagements and the emphasis of faith and peacebuilding present at 黑料正能量, I feel like I will be able to enrich my canvas throughout my time here.鈥�

A native of Nairobi, Kenya, she moved at age five to Ethiopia and at nine to Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

She was a member of the varsity track and cross country teams and competed for Lancaster City Track Club during her J.P. McCaskey High School. Asefa was also involved in Black Student Union and Gospel Choir, and served as the student representative to the school board and a church youth leader.

She earned recognition as the 2021-2022 McCAskey Female Athlete of the Year, student of the month, and L-L-league Scholar Athlete. She was also a member of National Honors Society and Distinguished Honor Roll. 

Asefa originally planned to become a physical therapist, but has decided to pivot to nursing. 鈥淚 always valued health institutions and the great importance they bring to the world,鈥� Asefa said. 鈥淎s a woman of color, I also hope to create a chain that will inspire more women of color to aim to pursue a health career. I believe that bringing more diversity to this field is crucial for the future of all health institutions around the world.鈥�

Nia Boyd

Nia Boyd, from Richmond, Virginia, plans to major in art and English with minors in either pre-law or Spanish. She hopes to become a criminal lawyer.

Boyd played field hockey and softball for Henrico High School. She earned an honorable mention in field hockey for 2nd Team All-Region , and for softball, two Warrior awards. She is looking forward to running on 黑料正能量鈥檚 track and field team.

鈥淲hen it came to my sports, I enjoyed the release I felt. When I was entering high school, the transition was harder than most because I had lost my father in July,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 think my sports taught me perseverance through the pain and that anything is possible.鈥�

Boyd was also a member of her school鈥檚 mock trial team. She earned the Best Attorney in Virginia award twice. She was the first at Henrico to have achieved this in her first year of competition, which her coach named as remarkable. As a senior, she earned a perfect score. The mock trial experience helped her learn to articulate her feelings or beliefs and advocate effectively for others.

She was also a member of the Black Student Union. 鈥淭his club showed me how to embrace my roots and be proud of who I was,鈥� she said.

Boyd chose 黑料正能量 because of the community. 鈥淚 loved the atmosphere on campus and enjoyed how everyone was welcoming of one another,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 liked how small it was, because it made me feel like I would be taken care of and understood by people around me rather than just a number. I鈥檓 excited about meeting new friends and becoming active in this community.鈥�

Anne Cornelius

Anne Cornelius grew up in Yangon, Myanmar, and graduated from Thalun International School in 2021 in the midst of a pandemic and political unrest.

She is still considering different career paths, but with the same goal. 鈥淚鈥檝e chosen international business as a major for the time being, solely to fulfill my purpose of returning back home and participating in the mending of the Burmese economy,鈥� Cornelius said.

In high school, Cornelius was a part of the Student Council, Art Club, Community Service, and Trash Hero. She received the Best Data Analysis and Best Presentation awards during the Learning Across Borders programs, which involve competing for environmental science projects in different countries. 

Cornelius also participated in various advocacy activities, such as GM4MD and USACM, and worked as a reporter for a news company. She also volunteered as a teacher and translator at multiple churches and events. These experiences highlight the importance of community and genuinity, she said. 鈥淚 truly learned to treasure the community I had that showed me genuine kindness and peace.鈥�

When she visited, Cornelius realized how much 黑料正能量鈥檚 values aligned with her own. 鈥淭he community was very welcoming and supportive. As someone who recently graduated with seven other students in my class, 黑料正能量鈥檚 small classroom sizes and the student to teacher ratio were the reasons why I chose to become a Royal.鈥�

Maria Longenecker

When Maria Longenecker came to 黑料正能量 for a visit last winter, she attended a trivia night and went to an Ultimate Frisbee event. The sense of community she experienced drew her to 黑料正能量. 鈥淓ven from that short weekend, I could sense that 黑料正能量 was a place where people cared deeply about each other and also could have a lot of fun together,鈥� she said.

She is a biology major, with plans for a career in education or the medical field. 

Longenecker is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and attended JP McCaskey High School. She earned the International Baccalaureate, bilingual (Spanish-English) diploma, McCaskey鈥檚 2022 Shawn W. Wampler Award, and membership in National Honors Society. 

Longenecker was on the student council, superintendent鈥檚 cabinet, and pole vaulted and ran for the track team. She also helped out in an elementary music classroom. 

鈥淚 love music and participated in multiple choirs, the theater department, and marching band,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he music department was a great source of community and friendship throughout high school.鈥�

She was active with Blossom Hill Mennonite Church and also worked at the Lancaster Sweet Shoppe and Stroopie Co. for 3.5 years. 鈥淚 loved getting to know the 鈥榬egulars鈥� on a more personal level,鈥� Longenecker said. 鈥淪ince I worked there for so long, I would get to know a few customers really well and it was fun following along with their stories through all of the ups and downs.鈥� 

Arelys Martinez Fabian

Arelys Martinez Fabian is majoring in education and Spanish with the hopes of becoming a teacher.

鈥淚 started school with very basic level English and it was very difficult trying to learn and become adapted to the new culture,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would love to be able to help other students who experience that same feeling, the way my amazing teachers helped me.鈥�

Hailing from Winchester, Virginia, Martinez Fabian graduated from Millbrook High School, where she was senior president of Interact Club and a SCA representative for her class. Additionally, she was class vice president of the Spanish Club. She was also a member of FCCLA and Multicultural Club. 

鈥淚 met some of my best friends there and it taught me so much about being proud of who I am and my culture,鈥� she said.

Martinez Fabian also won best poster for FCCLA at the state level, earned a bilingual certification, was the Student of the Year for Teachers for Tomorrow in recognition for her volunteer work she completed).

During high school, Martinez Fabian worked at Cracker Barrel and Target, but her most influential job was at a daycare as a teacher’s assistant. 鈥淢y choice to be a teacher was solidified there because I loved working with the students,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t taught me a lot about how different children are from each other, for example, their learning styles or creativity. My time at the daycare taught me more about patience and understanding.鈥�

The decision to come to 黑料正能量 came down to the close and welcoming community for Martinez Fabian. 鈥淚 am super excited about getting to learn about new perspectives and experience a completely different environment,鈥� she said.

The following article by Head Coach Bob Hepler, with assistants Kyle Dickinson and Joanna Friesen, was published in the Spring/Summer 2022 Crossroads magazine.

In 2018, I arrived at 黑料正能量 after spending 14 years as an administrator and coach at University of Texas Tyler. My time at UT Tyler was fruitful 鈥� I started their track and field program, won 23 track and cross country conference championships, coached 20 All-Americans and four individual NCAA champions.

However, in 2018, my personal goal was to coach at a small Christian university that puts academics ahead of winning. 黑料正能量 became my next move. When I arrived, it was clear the program was on life support, weakened by a series of coaching turnovers, in most cases due to personal circumstances. A core of committed athletes stayed with the program, and coaches Hannah Chappell-Dick ’18 and Joanna Friesen MDiv ’21 put their lives on hold to keep the program going. Former dean of students Ken Nafziger ’79 and director of athletics Dave King ’76 also provided instrumental support through this time. 

I鈥檒l be honest: These last few years have been challenging, with low roster numbers, further coaching departures, less than competitive conference performances and COVID-19 limitations. But there are signs of hope, building on the commitment and passion of our coaching staff. We bring different strengths and personalities, but we share a common vision for the Royals program and we all intend on coaching here for many years to come.

Committed to coaching

Joanna Friesen, former Houghton College record-setter, was here before I arrived. She has been instrumental in the development of our triathlon team and distance program, and has a growing role in our recruiting efforts. Kyle Dickinson signed on in 2020 as associate head coach to work with sprints and jumps. He came to 黑料正能量 after successful stints at Shippensburg University and Penn State Harrisburg, where he had a hand in producing over 30 conference champions, eight All-Americans, 16 national qualifiers, and multiple conference athletes of the year.  

A committed coaching staff is one step towards a fully realized vision for the Royals. But three more pieces need to fall into place: athlete development, improved recruiting, and the need for a new track and field facility.

We鈥檙e already seeing an increasing number of athletes grow and succeed with us. Our roster increased to 42 this year, rebounding from a low of 25 in spring 2019. Team numbers provide both critical mass and a competitive spirit. Our athletes were stunningly successful with an incredible number of Top 10 All-Time performances during the 2021-22 track season. With the program approaching its 50th anniversary, a top ten performance is no small feat. Two elite athletes, seniors Alijah Johnson and Isaac Alderfer, each broke 黑料正能量 and conference records, won conference championships, and have qualified for the last several NCAA indoor and outdoor national championships.

With these individual successes come improved team performances: Both women鈥檚 and men鈥檚 cross country had their best finishes in years at the ODAC championships, coming in third and fourth respectively. In track, the men finished fifth and the women seventh. Consider these performances in light of the most recent NCAA rankings. The ODAC had six of the top 10 teams in the region, including 黑料正能量 at 10th.These results are a solid improvement for the program in what is now one of the best conferences in the country. 

Most importantly, our program鈥檚 larger roster includes student-athletes representing diverse socio-economic and racial backgrounds. In our multi-disciplinary sport, every athlete of all body type and disposition can find an event in which they can compete and improve; we are the embodiment of inclusivity. 黑料正能量 track and field is not only a key program in the university鈥檚 efforts to increase diversity and encourage belonging; it directly aligns with its mission and values.

Progress is being made!

We are now poised for a higher level of success, but one key element is missing. A quality facility is desperately needed. When high school juniors and seniors see our current track, they usually eliminate 黑料正能量 from their college list. A new facility combined with coaching stability, proven athletic development, and a focused approach to recruiting will lead to a roster of 60-70 athletes and consistent ODAC top-five team finishes within two years of the opening of the new facility. This is not just a gut feeling; Kyle, Joanna and our athletes have laid a strong foundation for growth and success. 

黑料正能量 Track and Field is on the rise. Join us in support of this exciting new vision! Visit for more information or to donate.

鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of a crazy question,鈥澨鼿annah Chappell-Dick, the women鈥檚 cross country and assistant track coach at听Brown University听in Providence, Rhode Island, said this week during the 鈥淎 Matter of Faith鈥� podcast..

A familiar name was seen on the list as senior d, becoming the Royals first male winner since Tyler Denlinger won the award back in 2017. 

“It feels really great to be honored for the things I’ve enjoyed doing for the past four years, kind of holistically, at college,” Alderfer told Assistant ODAC Commissioner J.J. Nekoloff. “I’ve been pretty heavily involved in a lot of different areas and so it’s good to have this honor that really recognizes that I’ve been doing.” 

Alderfer is a 2022 graduate of 黑料正能量 with a degree in environmental science with minors in photography and history. The Broadway, Va. native has had a stellar athletic career for the Royals, starring across three sports: cross-country as well as indoor and outdoor track & field. In his four years at 黑料正能量, he had a laundry list of accomplishments that included but was not limited to: 黑料正能量 Male Athlete of the Year (2019-20 and 2020-21), 黑料正能量 President’s Award (2021-22), 3x national qualifier, 3x ODAC champion and holder of six different individual and relay records

Just as impressive as his athletic accomplishments, his academic resume showed that he was a dual-threat. He finished his 黑料正能量 career with a 3.97 GPA. In addition, he was named CoSIDA Academic All-District twice, CoSIDA Academic All-American, 2x ODAC Scholar Athlete of the Year and is a Yoder Scholar, 黑料正能量’s highest academic award. 

The third prong of the award took a look at students’ community service and campus involvement. Alderfer checked all the boxes there too, being heavily involved in areas such as being President of 黑料正能量 Explore Club, being on the Leadership Team of Earthkeepers Club, being an Honors Council Member, acting as a Creation Care Council Member as well as an Intercultural Committee Member and more. 

He’ll now go on to compete for a D3CA regional award and ultimately, if he wins that, he’ll compete for the D3CA Male Student-Athlete of the Year Award.

Alderfer becomes the sixth Royal to win the Jopson Award, which is third all-time in the ODAC behind Washington and Lee University and Hampden-Sydney College. 

The Jopson Award is named in honor of the Bridgewater College professor and coach who retired in 1981 following 45 years at BC. Dr. Jopson, who initiated and directed the Eagles’ cross country and track & field programs, led his teams to ODAC indoor track & field titles in 1979, 1980 and 1981, and outdoor crowns from 1978 through 1981.

The Marjorie T. Berkley Award, given to the ODAC’s top female scholar-athlete, was won by Olivia Weinel of Shenandoah University. 

For the full ODAC release, including video interviews with both winners, .