By Garner Roberts
Schedule of Events | Live Stream | Live Results | D-II Meet Records and History
PUEBLO, Colo. – Amanda Ouedraogo of Abilene Christian University upset Angelo State's favorite Kearah Danville in the women's triple jump to claim the Wildcats' first individual title at the NCAA Division II outdoor track and field championships here Friday.
Ouedraogo, senior from Haute de Seine, France, trailed Danville after the three preliminary rounds, but Ouedraogo turned in the best jump of her collegiate career, a wind-aided 44 feet, 0.75 inches (13.43 meters), in the fourth round to take a three-centimeter lead. She is only the third D-II jumper ever to eclipse 44 feet along with Diana Wills (1990) and Nkeiruka Domike (2011).
Ouedraogo's effort held up for the victory – the second NCAA Division II championship of her ACU career. She also won the 2012 indoor title.
“It was my last chance to be a national champion,” Ouedraogo said. “I was not No. 1 so I had nothing to lose. It's my senior year. I had some pressure on me, but I went for it. I'm happy. I'm grateful.”
Danville, the NCAA Division II winner outdoors in 2012 and indoors in 2013 over runner-up Ouedraogo, led through the preliminary jumps with a wind-aided 43-11.75 (13.40 meters) to 43-7 (13.28 meters) over Ouedraogo. Ouedraogo's 13.28 jump (legal 1.4 wind) came in round two before and after fouls and erased her own ACU record.
“My second jump was behind the board,” Ouedraogo said. “I was just trying to be safe. My run-through is inconsistent.”
Her winning jump came in the fourth round to open the finals (aided by a 3.6-meters-per-second wind). “I was just trying to run,” she said. “I was not even on the board again. I was just trying to make a safe jump.
“I have to practice by myself because I do not have a coach,” she continued. “I'm very blessed.”
Ouedraogo believes her jump in round five – another foul – was 45 feet. Then she jumped 43-3 in the final round.
Danville, a transfer from New Mexico Highlands, jumped last in rounds four, five and six as the prelim leader. But she managed only a foul in round four, 42-11 in round five and 42-10.75 in round six in response to Ouedraogo's 13.43.
In Lone Star Conference meets this year, the two triple jumpers also traded victories – with Ouedraogo taking the indoor title in Lubbock in February and Danville taking the outdoor title in May in Canyon.
Ouedraogo's win gave the Abilene Christian women's team its only points (10) of the NCAA meet after two of the three days of the 2013 championships. Also Friday, Chloe Susset was a non-scoring ninth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (11:13.51) behind two-time winner Alice Nelson of Adams State (10:26.95), and senior Cassie Brooks placed 13th with 4,860 points.
Three other Wildcat women competed Friday in qualifying for running events, but none advanced. They were Shennae Steele in the 200 (24.14), Ayesha Rumble in the 800 (2:14.49) and Lexus Williams in the 100-meter hurdles (13.83).
The ACU women will have two competitors here Saturday on the final day at warm, windy Colorado State-Pueblo. Susset will compete in the final of the 1,500 meters after Ameilia Mitchell throws the javelin. They will be ACU's final student-athletes to compete in NCAA Division II.
The ACU men wrapped up their competition here Friday with only nine points, including a point from newcomer Andrew Hudson, a transfer from Oklahoma State, who placed eighth in the discus throw with 169-11. Pittsburg State's John Talbert won with 196-7 on his final throw.
Hudson was eighth after the prelims, but he fouled on all three attempts in the finals.
The Wildcats got their other eight points Thursday also from a thrower – Baptiste Kerjean was runner-up in the hammer throw.
The Wildcats' performance will end a streak of 31 consecutive years in the top 10 for the men in NCAA Division II outdoor track and field since re-joining NCAA track in 1982 after competing in NAIA. ACU is making its final appearance in this meet before returning to NCAA Division I track in 2014.
ACU Results at NCAA D-II Championships
200-meter dash prelims
14.) Shennae Steele - 24.14 (+5.4w)
800-meter run prelims
15.) Ayesha Rumble - 2:14.49
100-meter hurdles prelims
14.) Lexus Williams - 13.83 (+2.7w)
3000-meter steeplechase finals
9.) Chloe Susset - 11:13.51
Triple Jump
1.) Amanda Ouedraogo - 44-00.75/13.43m (+3.6w)
Discus
8.) Andrew Hudson - 169-11/51.81m
Heptathlon
13.) Cassie Brooks - 4,860 points
100H: 14.72 (+1.6w) – 11th, 879 pts. | HJ: 5-04.25 (1.63m) – 7th, 771 pts. | SP: 38-02.25 (11.64m) – 5th, 637 pts. | 200m – 26.31 (-0.3w) – 13th, 770 pts.| LJ: 16-11.75/5.16m (+0.1w) - 15th, 603 pts. | JT: 128-2/39.08m - 3rd, 650 pts. | 800m - 2:42.03 - 15th, 550 pts.
