Quartet of Victors Lead Women's Track and Field at Spartan Twilight
May 1, 2015
DUBUQUE, Iowa - Nicole Forson, Abigail Willis, Alexis Higgins, and Fabiola Ortiz all won their respective events in the University of Dubuque women's track and field's final meet at home, the Spartan Twilight Invitational, in preparation for the Iowa Conference Championships next weekend.
No team scores were kept, but the Spartans challenged competitors from fellow Iowa Conference schools, Loras, Buena Vista, Simpson, and Coe.
Junior Nicole Forson set a monstrous personal record in winning the hammer throw with a toss of 50.89m/166'11". She reset the school record and outdid her previous best of 48.72m/159'10'. Forson now leads the conference by nearly seven feet.
In the discus, Abigail Willis (39.03m/128’1”) led a 1-2-3 finish. With her season-best toss, Willis now sits fifth in the Iowa Conference. Allyson Machala (35.95m/117’11”), and Lauren Egnarski (35.09m/115’1”) backed her up in second and third as all three cleared Machala’s previous season-best of 34.79m/114’2” that led the team.
Alexis Higgins won her second straight high jump competition after placing first at the Dr. Tucker Loras Open a week ago. The junior eclipsed 1.64m/5’4.5” to claim the victory. Higgins leadped 5'6" at the University of Dubuque Invitational a few weeks earlier and is tied for the Iowa Conference lead heading into next weekend.
Fabiola Ortiz was back at it again after blowing away the field in the 800m with a time of 2:18.84. The sophomore won by nearly six seconds and now ranks seventh in the IIAC. It was her third individual win of the outdoor season.
Tanasha Atwater grabs a runner up finish in the shot put after tossing 12.11m/39’8.75”. It was her third, Top-3 performance in a row. Atwater's throw of 44'0.75" at the University of Dubuque Invitational has her sitting in second place heading into the conference championships.
Amanda Sinkler also added a runner up performance in tbe pole vault after eclipsing the 3.25m/10’8” mark. The freshmen resides in the second spot in the IIAC with a 11'7.75" mark set at the University of Dubuque Invitational
Kiersten Wenthold (5:12.82) and Kristin Mackenburg (5:15.90) went 3-4 in the 1500m, each setting a personal record. Mackenburg’s beat her previous best by over six seconds.
The foursome of Katie Popanz, Brittany Burns, Nikki McKenzie, and Jasmine Bethea earned third in the 4x100m relay in a time of 49.54.
Placing third in the 4x400m relay was the quartet of Bethea, Melissa Todman, Skylar Brooks, and Wenthold after crossing the line in a time of 4:21.11.
Freshman Popanz garnered a third-place showing in the 100m after crossing the line in a time of 12.87.
The Spartans will have a few days off before competing at the Iowa Conference outdoor championships hosted by Simpson College next Thursday through Saturday.
