Winters and Goodlow Qualify, Others Fall Short in Championship Bids
Mar 10, 2015
UW-Platteville Final Qualifying Meet
WISCONSIN – A select number of Spartans on the University of Dubuque men’s and women’s track teams competed at the UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point Last Chance meets this past weekend in their attempt to qualify for the NCAA Division III Indoor National Championship meet on March 13-14.
No team scores were kept as both meets served as another opportunity for individuals to qualify for the National Championships. For the men, the Top-15 times of each event in the nation qualify individually with the Top-17 times qualifying individually on the women’s side. Both genders take the Top-12 relays in each event.
At Platteville on Friday, senior Rachel Busjahn anchored the Spartan women’s contingent after setting a personal and UD school indoor 400m record (58.49). Busjahn’s time ended up 37th nationally. Katie Popanz earned a personal record in both the 60m (8.21) and 200m (27.28) while Sybbie Sears earned a personal record in the 60m hurdles (9.78).
For the men, Robinson and senior Kyle Williams fell short in their quest for national bids in the 200m and the 60m, respectively. Bojang, two spots out from clinching a berth in the triple jump, leapt well below his season-best of 46’11.5” after a 44’11.75”.
At Stevens Point on Saturday, Busjahn was the only participant for the women after running the 400m (59.84). Williams, Robinson, and Bojang competed again for the men, but fell short of their season bests.
Two Spartans, freshman Ernest Winters and sophomore DuVaun Goodlow. have already punched their ticket to Nationals. Winters blazed his way into the 60m (6.89) with the 11th fastest time and torched the 200m (22.00) with the 2nd fastest time in the nation. Goodlow’s leap of 2.07m/6’9.5” in the high jump qualified 12th overall.
Four Spartans just missed the cut after posting Top-30 times. Senior Kyle Williams ran the 21st best 60m (6.94) off a converted 55m earlier in the season. Freshman Deshond Robinson ended up 30th in the country in the 400m (49.65). Junior Kebba Bojang missed the cut by two spots after concluding the season 17th in the triple jump (14.31m/46’11.5”). Finally, senior Tyler Dobratz finished his indoor career 20th nationally with 4750 points in the heptathlon.
Robinson, Bojang, and Dobratz each won a 2015 Indoor IIAC title in their respective disciplines while Williams placed third in the 60m (7.04).
The Spartans open up the 2015 outdoor season as they travel to the Wartburg Select meet on April 4.
