Ortiz Sets School Record and Valcin Competes at UW-Platteville Invitational
Apr 11, 2015
FULL RESULTS
PLATTEVILLE, Wis. - Fabiola Ortiz set her fifth school record after winning the 3000m steeplechase in 11:38.56 and Rick Valcin competed for the first time this season as the pair led the University of Dubuque track and field teams at the UW-Platteville Invitational on Saturday afternoon.
No team scores were kept as the Spartans faced a wealth of talent against a who's-who of WIAC (Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) schools and 2015 IIAC Indoor Champion, Wartburg.
No matter the competition, Ortiz continued to re-write the UD record book after adding the steeplechase to her growing list that already includes four events indoors: the 800m, mile, 4x800m relay, and the distance medley relay. The Elgin, Ill. native has set a school record in four of her last five races dating back to the Spartan Invitational on December 20.
After sitting out all of indoor season due to injury, Valcin, the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Pole Vault Champion and NCAA Indoor Pole Vault runner-up, shook off the rust to take sixth-place in the pole vault. His vault of 4.68m/15'4.25" tied him with five others, but his lack of misses gave him sixth.
Other top performances included Alexis Higgins runner up finish in the women's high jump (1.65m/5'5"). Higgins missed out on first place by one inch in her first outdoor competition of the spring.
Kebba Bojang placed third in the men's triple jump (13.87m/45'6.25") and improved upon his winning leap at the Wartburg Outdoor Select meet last weekend.
In a bizarre occurrence, Amanda Sinkler finished in a seven-way tie for the best women's pole vault mark of the day at 3.51m/11'6.25". The freshman placed fifth overall due to her five total misses.
Nikki McKenzie, owner of the last three IIAC triple jump championships, faced some stiff competition after placing seventh overall with a leap of 11.07m/36'4". The senior finished ninth in the long jump after putting up a mark of 5.22m/17'1.5".
McKenzie ran the third leg of the 4x100m relay team that placed seventh overall in a time of 50.49. Rachael Busjahn, Katie Popanz, and Amanda Zbilski rounded out the women's team.
The men's 4x100m relay team of Reggie Cole, Colby Rattenborg, Hurshel Ross III, and Gabe Hess placed sixth overall after racing to a time of 44.28.
The Spartans host the UD Invite next Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m.
