Tuesday, January 17, 2017

NEW ORLEANS – A dominant start to the season at the UW Preview for Concordia’s McKenzie Warren has earned the senior selection as the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association’s (USTFCCCA) NCAA Division II Women’s Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week.

Warren, who was also named the GNAC Women’s Field Athlete of the Week, won the shot put at the season opening UW Preview in Seattle on Saturday. Her mark of 54 feet, 8 inches, was four feet better of the rest of the field, which was dominated by NCAA Division I competition. Her nearest competitor, Stanford’s Lena Giger, was second with a mark of 50 feet, 8.25 inches. In addition to the shot put win, Warren placed third in the weight throw with a mark of 53 feet, 3.75 inches.

Warren’s performance in the shot put is not only the best in Division II this season, but ranks seventh among all marks in all NCAA divisions.

The defending GNAC indoor champion in the shot put, Warren also set the conference record last year with a mark of 55 feet, 3.5 inches. She competed at last year’s USA Track & Field National Indoor Championships in Portland, where she placed 11th with a best of 53 feet, 1.5 inches. Warren, who redshirted the outdoor season, also earned a provisional qualifying mark for the U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials, but was not included in the field selected to compete.

Warren and the Cavaliers will compete this weekend at the Bronco Invitational in Nampa, Idaho.