Gulf Shores, Ala. - University of Montana Western senior Mindy Kaufman is set to compete in the 5000 meters at the 2019 NAIA outdoor Track and Field National Championship.

Kaufman qualified for the national meet earlier this spring in Spokane, Wash. when she ran not only a personal best, but also set a school record with a blazing time of 17:44.81.

She will become the first track athlete from the University to compete at the national meet since 1983. Track was cut as a varsity sport following the 1986 season and was reinstated in the spring of 2017. 

"To get to nationals marks a big step in our program," head coach Dylan Zitzer said. 

The conditions are going to be super challenging, with temperatures north of 90 degrees and the humidity significantly greater than that back home in the treasure state. 

"She will battle the heat and humidity, but she is really focused and has given everything she could to get here," Zitzer added. "We are doing everything we can to stay cool."

Kaufman has done a majority of training on her own for the last five months. As she finished her student teaching in Idaho this spring.

"She is ready, and she has preparing best she could, working on her mental toughness," Zizter said.

She has proven that toughness on and off the track. She is a Daktronics Scholar-Athlete in both cross county and track, and graduated summa cum laude a couple of weeks ago. On the track the All-American is in the best shape of her college career and is peeking at the right time. 

Kaufman will run in the preliminary heats of the 5000 meters on May 24 at 5:10 p.m. Mountain Time.  The top-six finishers in each heat will advance to the finals followed by the next fastest four times. 

If she advances to the finals, she will run Saturday, May 25 at 4:30 p.m.


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