Tuesday, May 23, 2017
NEW ORLEANS, La. – A trio of conference championships and a trio of conference records for Concordia senior McKenzie Warren has earned the thrower selection as the U.S. Track and Field & Cross Country Coaches Association’s (USTFCCCA) Division II West Region Female Field Athlete of the Year.
Warren finished off a stellar Concordia career by winning three throwing events at the GNAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, all with meet record performances. She broke the women’s shot put meet record by eight feet with her winning mark of 54 feet, 3.75 inches, and closed the first day of competition with a record win in the discus with a mark of 157 feet, 11.25 inches.
Warren closed the meet by breaking both the meet and conference records in the hammer with her throw of 190 feet, 9.25 inches. For her efforts, the senior was chosen by the conference’s coaches as the Female Athlete of the Meet.
The performances at the GNAC Championships capped a banner season that saw Warren set conference records in all three disciplines. She established the record in the shot put with a mark of 56 feet, 7.5 inches, which ranks No. 1 among Division II competitors. She set a GNAC record in the discus at 169 feet, 3 inches, which ranks seventh in Division II, while her hammer record mark is 11th in the nation.
While the marks would easily qualify Warren for the NCAA Division II Championships, Concordia is ineligible as an insitution due to its transition period from NAIA to NCAA membership.
“I am very happy with how McKenzie competed this outdoor season, especially since she had three events to do, which is very tough,” said Concordia associate track and field coach Jarred Rome. “What a tremendous year, indoor and outdoor, breaking all of the conference records, setting all of the meet records and getting national recognition is just phenomenal.”
Earlier this year, Warren won both the shot put and weight throw at the GNAC Indoor Track and Field Championships and set the Division II record in the indoor shot put at 57 feet, 9.75 inches. In lieu of the chance to perform at the NCAA meet, Warren placed sixth at the USATF Indoor National Championsships with a mark of 57 feet, 7 inches.
Warren was the only outdoor track and field regional award winner from the GNAC this season. Award winners were nominated by and voted upon by USTFCCCA member coaches. Only those individuals from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for awards.
Information from the Concordia sports information office was used in this report.