Rowland, Beard Named Heart Women’s Indoor Track & Field Athletes of the Week

The Heart of America Athletic Conference announced its Heart Women's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week honors on Monday, as Allena Rowland of Clarke University was selected the Heart Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week, while Baylee Beard of Central Methodist earned the Heart Women's Indoor Field Athlete of the Week.

Beard posted two second-place finishes at the UCM Mule Relays last week in the women's shot put and weight throw.

In the shot put, the Centralia, Mo., native earned second place out of 31 competitors with her toss of 13.51m. She hit the NAIA 'A' Standard qualifying her for the NAIA Women's Indoor Track & Field National Championships.

She then took home second in the weight throw, with a toss of 17.04m, which broke the school record and hit the NAIA 'A' Standard of qualification. Beard is currently ranked in the Top 10 in both events.

Rowland broke the Clarke school record in the women's 400m dash with a time of 58.63 at the St. Ambrose Fighting Bee Invite. She won the event and hit the NAIA 'B' Standard.

She followed that up with a second-place finish in the 800m run with a time of 2:22.66.