Steinmetz earns USTFCCCA Regional honor

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- After a standout freshman season, Grace Steinmetz was named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association's Midwest Region Athlete of the Year in an announcement made today by the organization. 

Steinmetz won the individual titles at the Frontier Conference Championships, Blazing Tiger NAIA Classic, and Defender Holiday Inn Express Classic. She also finished second at the Gans Creek Classic and posted top-five finishes at the Augustana Twilight and Woody Greeno/Jay Dirksen Invitational. 

In addition, she recorded the best-ever finish in program history at the NAIA National Championships with her fifth-place showing at Apalachee Park in Tallahassee, Fla. For her efforts, she earned NAIA All-American accolades. 

The Council Bluffs, Iowa, native, Steinmetz established school records during her freshman campaign at both 5 kilometers and 6 kilometers, running 17:33.0 and 20:40.4, respectively. 

The Bruins will open the 2025-26 indoor track campaign when they travel to Seward, Neb., on Dec. 13 to compete in the Concordia University Early Bird Meet.