All-American! Alex Link Captures Elusive Status in Discus
May 26, 2016
Sophomore Alex Link extended his own school record by over three feet and became only second UD thrower to earn All-American status.
COMPLETE Results
Official Championship webpage
WAVERLY, Iowa – Sophomore Alex Link became the first University of Dubuque track and field male thrower to claim All-American honors since 1982 with a seventh-place performance in the discus throw with a school record (170-10). Freshman Blaze Murfin also placed 18th in the discus and junior Fabiola Ortiz qualified for the women’s 3000m Steeplechase finals.
Link made the most of his first national championship appearance after extending his school record and setting a new personal best by over three feet. His mark of 170-9.75/52.06m was attained on his second throw of the day and placed him seventh overall.
Link now joins Keith Graves, who earned All-American in the shot put in 1982, as the only two male Spartan throwers to be named All-American.
Fellow thrower, Blaze Murfin, finished 18th overall in the discus with a toss of 146-0/44.50m. The Iowa Conference outdoor field MVP came in to the national meet seeded 20th and improved his standing despite scratching on two of his three throws.
Last but not least, the lone UD runner to qualify for nationals, Fabiola Ortiz, snuck into the 14-woman 3000m Steeplechase final with the 13th fastest time of 11:06.07. In her first trip to the national meet, the two-time IIAC 3000m Steeplechase champion will compete in the Saturday final at 12:45 p.m.
UD’s fourth and final qualifier, thrower Tanasha Atwater, competes in the shot put on Friday at 12:00 p.m. and tosses the hammer at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday.
