Gottschalk named NSIC Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week

Friday, April 5

Tucson, Az.

St. Cloud State

Jim Click Shootout Heptathlon

Photo by: Kelsey Whaley

4/8/2019 2:35:00 PM | Women's Track & Field

BURNSVILLE, MINN. – To say St. Cloud State University track and field's Natalie Gottschalk (Waukesha, Wis. / Waukesha South) got the outdoor season started on the right foot might be a bit of an understatement. The senior had a weekend to remember in the final opening weekend of her collegiate career and was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Women's Outdoor Field Athlete of the Week for her outstanding performance at the Jim Click Shootout, hosted by the University of Arizona.

Gottschalk put together the performance of a lifetime at one of the most prestigious meets in the nation, as she finished 10^th in the heptathlon at the Jim Click Shootout behind a personal best score of 5005. The senior was the highest finisher from Division II in the competition and used a phenomenal final day to boost her place in the final standings. Gottschalk finished 13^th in the 100m hurdles, seventh in high jump, ninth in shot put, 14^th in the 200m dash, eighth in long jump, fourth in javelin and sixth in the 800m run to vault her to 10^th place.

However, her final score wasn't just a career best for Gottschalk. The senior currently leads the NSIC in the heptathlon and ranks fourth in Division II thanks to her 5005 score. Thanks to her individual event marks this weekend, Gottschalk currently ranks No. 1 in the NSIC in high jump (1.63m), No. 4 in javelin (37.26m) and eighth in long jump (5.44m).

Gottschalk and her teammates will return to action this weekend when they participate in the Minnesota Invitational, hosted by the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota.