For the first time since 2017, the Heidelberg University track and field team saw one of their own claim a spot on the podium at the National Championships on Saturday afternoon.
With a fifth place finish in the men's 400 meter hurdles, senior Kenny Beucler earned All-American status at the Spire Institute in Geneva, Ohio today.
"We couldn't be more proud of Kenny," said head coach Joe Yoder. "This has been a long-time coming for him ... he is an athlete who does everything right, he takes care of all this little things and gives his all to the team."
Beucler, a senior native of Bryan, Ohio, becomes the 19th outdoor All-American in the program's history, and just the third to earn the honor in the 400 meter hurdles -- the first since Yoder reached the podium in 2012 in his time racing for Heidelberg.
Beucler's time in the final was 52.32 seconds and was just under a second off of the top spot. Dallas Wright of Wartburg took top honors in the event with a time of 51.35.
The time marked a career-best for Beucler and was the first time his time eclipsed Yoder's top time during his tenure in the event at the Berg.