Kansas City, Mo. - Central Methodist Women's Track and Field student-athlete, Renee Finke, was announced as the Heart of America's nominee for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award.
She was announced as the conference's nominee at the Heart Summit on July 29th in Olathe, Kan.
The award was named in honor of the NAIA's former executive secretary who served the association for 26 years. This award has been annually presented since 1967 to a male and female junior student-athlete in any sport who has excelled in scholarship, character, and citizenship.
Finke has had nothing short of an amazing career at Central Methodist, both athletically and academically.
She currently boasts a 4.0 cumulative GPA as a biology major in the classroom and became the program's first national champion in 20 years in the high jump. She cleared a school record height of 1.77 meters to place first at the NAIA Outdoor Championships in Marion, Indiana this last May.
Additionally, Finke finished fifth in the heptathlon with 5,071 points, becoming a two-time All-American during the 2024 outdoor campaign.
During indoor, Finke earned a pair of All-America finishes during the indoor season in the pentathlon (second) and the high jump (sixth). Altogether Finke was a four-time All-American during 2023-24.
She was also a key piece to the program's fifth-place finish at indoor nationals and a 10th-place standing at outdoor nationals.
Central Methodist Director of Track and Field/Cross Country, Kenny Anderson said, "I've witnessed first-hand how Renee is a young lady of high integrity, sportsmanship, servant leadership, responsibility, and respect. She is not only a fine athlete but is also an outstanding individual, as she excels in the classroom and is looked upon by others for her leadership."
Finke capped her junior season by earning recognition as the 2024 NAIA Women's Outdoor Track & Field Co-National Scholar Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association
Renee will move on as a candidate to be voted for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award at the National Level. The winner will be announced on September 15th.
To learn more about the NAIA National Awards, please click here.
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