McKenzie Defends Triple Jump Title as Spartans Take Third at IIAC Championships
Feb 28, 2015
Senior Nikki McKenzie won her second straight IIAC title in the triple jump in this weekend's IIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships.
WAVERLY, Iowa – Senior Nikki McKenzie won the triple jump for the second straight year with a leap of 36'2.75” and earned fifth place in the long jump amidst a plethora of runner-up performances by the University of Dubuque women’s track team. UD’s performances helped push the Spartans to a third-place finish at the Iowa Conference Indoor Championships (hosted by Wartburg).
The Spartans used three school records to garner third-place for the second consecutive year, but set a school record after racking up 98 points. Wartburg (220) won the team crown while Central (153) placed second.
Sophomore Fabiola Ortiz blazed a 5:07.33 in the mile to break the school record for the second time in the last three weeks. The Elgin, Ill. native crushed her previous best of 5:18.70 and missed out on an IIAC title by less than 1.5 seconds. Ortiz also placed fourth in the 3000m run in a time of 10:42.20 and set another school record in the distance medley relay (12:26.56).
A member of the DMR, senior Rachael Busjahn, cruised to a personal record in the 400m (59.13) and a fourth-place finish. It was the second fastest indoor 400m of her career. The Sobieski, Wis. native also claimed a school record in the 4x400m relay (4:02.62) for the second straight week in a third-place performance. Busjahn also jumped 35’1.75” to earn a fourth-place finish in the triple jump.
Junior Alexis Higgins took second-place in the high jump with a leap of 5’3”. The Cedar Falls, Iowa native improved upon her fifth-place performance a year ago.
Freshman Amanda Sinkler added a pole vault runner up performance with a vault of 11’2.25”, while Amanda Zbilski claimed fourth-place with a 10’2.5” vault.
For the throwers, freshman Tanasha Atwater (41’5.75”) led a 4-5 finish in the shot put with fellow freshman Lauren Egnarski (40’3.5”). Atwater also placed sixth in the weight throw as junior Nicole Forson became UD’s top finisher in third-place with a toss of 50’7.5”. Senior Katelyn Herbig ended up eighth with a 47’5.25”.
A select number of Spartans will travel to the UW-Platteville Last Chance meet (March 6) and/or the UW-Stevens Point Qualifier (March 7) next week in hopes of improving their times and qualifying for the NCAA Division III National Championships in Salem, N.C. on March 13-14.
