Sisters in Christ, and on the field

For three years, SAU pole vaulters Bethany Kuenzer ’18 (Pittsford, Michigan) and senior Katrina Tovar (Sandusky, Michigan) pushed each other to unimaginable heights — because of their close friendship and love for each other.

Kuenzer and Tovar capped their 2018 indoor season with All-American performances at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championships in Pittsburg, Kansas. Both cleared a school-record 12’ 1.5” (3.70m), but by virtue of a jump-off, Kuenzer finished in sixth place followed by Tovar in seventh.

It was the second straight year Tovar earned All-American status at the indoor meet, while after three years of near misses, Kuenzer grabbed the honor for the first time in her career.

Three months later, at the outdoor national championships in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the two were standing on the All-American podium together, side by side, again. Tovar secured All-American status for the fourth time overall in her career, by finishing in fifth place with a mark of 12’ 1.5” (3.70m) — just two inches off her own school record. And, in the final performance of her spectacular career, Kuenzer finished seventh by clearing 11’ 11.75” (3.65m).

“Both of these girls model the values of Spring Arbor University,” said Head Women’s Track and Field Coach Bryan Burk ‘13. “They compete for God and give him the glory at the end of every day. They also love to have fun and enjoy life in the process. I know they are both going to be very successful at everything they put their mind to in the future!”