Ball State University Athletics
Cross Country
Rachel Nichwitz
- Title:
- Assistant Cross Country/Track and Field Coach
- Email:
- rachel.nichwitz@bsu.edu
A true developer of distance talent and an accomplished athlete in her own right, Rachel Nichwitz joined Ball State’s program as an Assistant Cross Country/Track and Field Coach in the Fall of 2024.
With previous experience at Colorado Christian University as well as other leadership opportunities and a championship pedigree as an athlete, Nichwitz serves as an assistant for the cross country team while overseeing the distance event squad for the track and field team.
In the 2026 Outdoor Track season, athletes under Nichwitz’s coaching saw an immense level of success. Freshman Kaitlyn Kauppila ran the 2nd-fastest time in program history in the 1500 meters at 4:26.04, less than half a second off of the program record. She also qualified for the final in the 1500m at the MAC Championships. The success extended to others too, with Carly Spletzer and Sarah Mahnensmith following as the 3rd- and 4th-fastest 1500m runners in program history. Through this success, 10 of the best 20 times in the 1500 were set in the 2026 season.
It didn’t stop there for outdoor, as Spletzer also ran the 3rd-fastest time in the history of the program for the 5000 meters with a time of 16:27.32 on top of becoming the 2nd-fastest Ball State runner in the 10,000 meters in a time of 34:33.85. She also finished in 7th at the MAC Championships for the 10K.
Freshman Emily Decker continued the record setting, etching her name with the 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-fastest 3000-meter steeplechase times in school history. She earned an invite to the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where she set that 2nd-fastest mark of 10:36.28.
In the 2026 Indoor Track season, Decker (9:44.33) and Kauppila (9:44.34) became the 5th- and 6th-fastest indoor 3k runners in program history. Across indoor and outdoor for 2026, there were 12 top-10 program times run by athletes under the guidance of Nichwitz.
The Distance Medley Relay of Mahnensmith, Kauppila, Decker and Abby Brennan also finished on the podium at the 2026 MAC Indoor Championships, coming home in 7th.
During the 2025 Cross Country season, Nichwitz helped oversee four runners compete in the Great Lakes Regional. Carly Spletzer finished 39th overall at the regional meet, the best individual finish for a Ball State athlete since 2021.
The 2025 Outdoor Track season showed that success was already starting to blossom with Nichwitz, as highlighted by Shelby Christman’s accolades in the 10,000 meters. Chirstman became the 8th-fastest individual in Ball State history when she ran a 36:11.49.
In the 2025 Indoor Track Season, records really began to fall. Mahnensmith became the 3rd-fastest runner for the 3k with a time of 9:40.80. She promptly followed that up two weeks later by setting the 3rd-fastest time in program history for an indoor mile at 4:51.54. Spletzer continued her growth with Nichwitz’s help slotting in just behind Mahnensmith as the 4th-fastest individual in the 3k in a time of 9:43.37. Spletzer also entered the top-10 fastest individuals for the indoor 5000m, landing as the 9th-fastest runner with a time of 17:02.78.
The 2024 Cross Country marked the first season for Nichwitz in Muncie, and her impact was felt immediately. In her first year, she coached the Cardinals to their highest program finish at the MAC Cross Country Championships in 4 years when they finished 7th. Nichwitz also led the team to their highest NCAA Great Lakes Regional finish in 15 years when they came home in 17th place. In that regional meet, all seven athletes set a PR or season best time.
Prior to Ball State, Nichwitz served as an Assistant Cross Country/Track and Field Coach at Colorado Christian University. During her time with the Cougars, the Men's team placed 8th as a team at the NCAA Division 2 Cross Country Championships with individual Matt Storer placing 3rd overall (29:14.5). The women's team also placed 16th overall in their 3rd ever appearance at Nationals.
In addition to success in the cross country season, Nichwitz also helped coach 3 athletes to All-American & 2nd Team All-American status at the NCAA D2 Indoor Track and Field Championships. Shannon King placed 10th in the 1600 (4:48.29), Matt Sorer placed 8th in the 3,000 (8:05.30) and 5th in the 5,000 (13:57), and Josh Pierantoni placed 8th in the 5,000 (13:59.80).
Nichwitz helped the Cougars find even more success on the Outdoor track with 5 athletes qualifying for the NCAA D2 Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Shannon King qualified for the 3k Steeplechase with a school record time of 10:32.00, Hudson Majeski in the 1500m, Alex Vance in the 3k Steeplechase, Josh Pierantoni in the 10k, and Matt Storer in the 5k & 10k. The Cougars came away with two All-American performances from Matt Storer & Josh Pierantoni in the 10k, finishing 5th & 8th respectively.
Prior to her time at Colorado Christian, Nichwitz served two years as a Program Manager at HoneyRock, Wheaton College's Center for Leadership Development where she also earned her Masters Degree in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership in 2021.
Nichwitz graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2019 with a degree in Kinesiology where she was a highly successful student-athlete. With the Razorbacks, Nichwitz was part of the four-time South Central Regional championship team and four-time SEC Cross Country championship team. She was also part of the three-time SEC Indoor Track and Field championship team and was a top finisher in the 3k and 5k. She still ranks 11th on Arkansas 3k Steeplechase list. Nichwitz was a member of 2016 Team USA at IAAF U20 World Championships in the 3k Steeplechase and finished third at 2016 USATF U20 Championships in the 3k Steeplechase.
With previous experience at Colorado Christian University as well as other leadership opportunities and a championship pedigree as an athlete, Nichwitz serves as an assistant for the cross country team while overseeing the distance event squad for the track and field team.
In the 2026 Outdoor Track season, athletes under Nichwitz’s coaching saw an immense level of success. Freshman Kaitlyn Kauppila ran the 2nd-fastest time in program history in the 1500 meters at 4:26.04, less than half a second off of the program record. She also qualified for the final in the 1500m at the MAC Championships. The success extended to others too, with Carly Spletzer and Sarah Mahnensmith following as the 3rd- and 4th-fastest 1500m runners in program history. Through this success, 10 of the best 20 times in the 1500 were set in the 2026 season.
It didn’t stop there for outdoor, as Spletzer also ran the 3rd-fastest time in the history of the program for the 5000 meters with a time of 16:27.32 on top of becoming the 2nd-fastest Ball State runner in the 10,000 meters in a time of 34:33.85. She also finished in 7th at the MAC Championships for the 10K.
Freshman Emily Decker continued the record setting, etching her name with the 2nd-, 3rd- and 4th-fastest 3000-meter steeplechase times in school history. She earned an invite to the USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where she set that 2nd-fastest mark of 10:36.28.
In the 2026 Indoor Track season, Decker (9:44.33) and Kauppila (9:44.34) became the 5th- and 6th-fastest indoor 3k runners in program history. Across indoor and outdoor for 2026, there were 12 top-10 program times run by athletes under the guidance of Nichwitz.
The Distance Medley Relay of Mahnensmith, Kauppila, Decker and Abby Brennan also finished on the podium at the 2026 MAC Indoor Championships, coming home in 7th.
During the 2025 Cross Country season, Nichwitz helped oversee four runners compete in the Great Lakes Regional. Carly Spletzer finished 39th overall at the regional meet, the best individual finish for a Ball State athlete since 2021.
The 2025 Outdoor Track season showed that success was already starting to blossom with Nichwitz, as highlighted by Shelby Christman’s accolades in the 10,000 meters. Chirstman became the 8th-fastest individual in Ball State history when she ran a 36:11.49.
In the 2025 Indoor Track Season, records really began to fall. Mahnensmith became the 3rd-fastest runner for the 3k with a time of 9:40.80. She promptly followed that up two weeks later by setting the 3rd-fastest time in program history for an indoor mile at 4:51.54. Spletzer continued her growth with Nichwitz’s help slotting in just behind Mahnensmith as the 4th-fastest individual in the 3k in a time of 9:43.37. Spletzer also entered the top-10 fastest individuals for the indoor 5000m, landing as the 9th-fastest runner with a time of 17:02.78.
The 2024 Cross Country marked the first season for Nichwitz in Muncie, and her impact was felt immediately. In her first year, she coached the Cardinals to their highest program finish at the MAC Cross Country Championships in 4 years when they finished 7th. Nichwitz also led the team to their highest NCAA Great Lakes Regional finish in 15 years when they came home in 17th place. In that regional meet, all seven athletes set a PR or season best time.
Prior to Ball State, Nichwitz served as an Assistant Cross Country/Track and Field Coach at Colorado Christian University. During her time with the Cougars, the Men's team placed 8th as a team at the NCAA Division 2 Cross Country Championships with individual Matt Storer placing 3rd overall (29:14.5). The women's team also placed 16th overall in their 3rd ever appearance at Nationals.
In addition to success in the cross country season, Nichwitz also helped coach 3 athletes to All-American & 2nd Team All-American status at the NCAA D2 Indoor Track and Field Championships. Shannon King placed 10th in the 1600 (4:48.29), Matt Sorer placed 8th in the 3,000 (8:05.30) and 5th in the 5,000 (13:57), and Josh Pierantoni placed 8th in the 5,000 (13:59.80).
Nichwitz helped the Cougars find even more success on the Outdoor track with 5 athletes qualifying for the NCAA D2 Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Shannon King qualified for the 3k Steeplechase with a school record time of 10:32.00, Hudson Majeski in the 1500m, Alex Vance in the 3k Steeplechase, Josh Pierantoni in the 10k, and Matt Storer in the 5k & 10k. The Cougars came away with two All-American performances from Matt Storer & Josh Pierantoni in the 10k, finishing 5th & 8th respectively.
Prior to her time at Colorado Christian, Nichwitz served two years as a Program Manager at HoneyRock, Wheaton College's Center for Leadership Development where she also earned her Masters Degree in Outdoor and Adventure Leadership in 2021.
Nichwitz graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2019 with a degree in Kinesiology where she was a highly successful student-athlete. With the Razorbacks, Nichwitz was part of the four-time South Central Regional championship team and four-time SEC Cross Country championship team. She was also part of the three-time SEC Indoor Track and Field championship team and was a top finisher in the 3k and 5k. She still ranks 11th on Arkansas 3k Steeplechase list. Nichwitz was a member of 2016 Team USA at IAAF U20 World Championships in the 3k Steeplechase and finished third at 2016 USATF U20 Championships in the 3k Steeplechase.
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