Ortiz Earns All-American Honors in Steeplechase
May 27, 2017
2017 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships
Women's Final All-Americans List
Men's Final All-American List
GENEVA, Ohio – The University of Dubuque track and field teams finished off the 2017 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships with one national champion in Tanasha Atwater and four All-Americans.
Saturday, Fabiola Ortiz capped off her career by finishing seventh in the women's 3000m steeplechase in 10:46.96 and earned All-American honors. She raced out of heat one of the 3,000m steeplechase in the prelims and won the heat in a time of 10:57.19. Fresh off a national championship throw in Friday's shot put, Tanasha Atwater placed 15th in the women's hammer throw with a toss of 50.58m/165'-11". Blaze Murfin failed to place after he fouled in all three attempts of the men's hammer throw.
After finishing third place in the shot put in 2016, Atwater took her performance to another level in 2017, throwing a school and stadium record of 15.09m. (49-06.25). Atwater led for most the meet as she had a toss of 14.23m on her first throw. It was on her fourth throw where she launched 15.09 to seal the national championship. Atwater is the first national champion in UD women’s track and field program history.
For the second straight year, UD thrower Alex Link has collected All-American honors in the discus throw at the 2017 NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships. After finishing in seventh place at the 2016 National Championships, Link placed second in the discus throw on Thursday at the National Championships.
Link was in second place after the prelims and saved his best throw for his last toss in the finals where he launched a throw of 51.21m (168-00) to seal his position in second place. Link finished right behind the winner who threw 51.56m (169-02).
Blaze Murfin became the second Spartan to become an All-American on the weekend with his performance on Friday morning. Murfin came in eighth place in the men’s shot put, with a best throw of 16.28m (53-05.00) on his third attempt. This is Murfin’s third All-American honor as he was an Indoor All-American this season in the shot put and weight throw.
Live Video: http://www.ncaa.com/liveschedule
Live Stats: http://results.deltatiming.com/ncaa/tf/2017-ncaa-d3-outdoor-championships
