YANKTON, S.D. -- Carroll College can add another national champion to its record books.
Nikki Krueger, a Fighting Saints junior from Kalispell, won the shot put at the NAIA indoor track and field national championships on Friday, marking a throw of 14.12 meters (46 feet, 4 inches). Krueger entered the meet with the nation's top qualifying throw, a 14.22-meter mark she set at the DSU Blue Hawk Classic in February.
Krueger saved her best throw for last on Friday. She marked throws of 13.58 meters, 13.63 meters and 13.94 meters through her first five attempts, which placed her second going into her sixth and final throw. Paige Sutter of Indiana Wesleyan put out a 14.03-meter throw on her third attempt that put her in first place going into the finals.
But Krueger, who won the 2017 Class AA state shot put title as a senior in high school at Glacier, uncorked her best throw of the meet on her final attempt to claim the national title.
