Thursday, March 10, 2016
by Concordia Athletic Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. - With Concordia not eligible to compete at in the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships thanks to their transition from NAIA to Division II, McKenzie Warren is receiving a pretty nice consolation prize: A spot in the USA Track & Field National Championships.

Having already crushed the all-time GNAC overall and meet record in the shot put, Warren will compete in the overall national meet on Mar. 11-12 at the Oregon Convention Center. As of Wednesday evening, Warren is ranked 10th out of 16 qualified entrants in the women's shot put with a season-best mark of 55-3 1/2 (16.85m). Warren is currently just one of two collegiate athletes in the women's shot put field. The USATF meet takes place just four miles from Concordia's north Portland campus.

Warren took the conference by storm during Concordia's first GNAC season, smashing the conference record with a mark of 55 feet, 3.5 inches. The mark is the best in Division II this season and is tied for 14th among all collegians. The sophomore would have automatically qualified for this weekend's Division II Indoor Championships, but the Cavaliers are ineligible for the meet until 2018 as they make their transition to Division II membership from NAIA membership.

Professional athletes sponsored by Nike represent three of the top four entrants with Daniella Bunch currently holding the top mark in the vent with a distance of 61 feet, 11 inches.

The women's shot put will take place on Friday, March 11 at approximately 4:45 p.m.

Warren has already qualified for the US Olympic Track & Field Team Trials that will take place at Heyward Field in Eugene, Ore., on July 1-10. 2016. Warren captured three NAIA All-American honors last season, including a national champion in the discus during the outdoor season. Ashland's Jamie Sindelar currently holds the top mark in NCAA Division II with a 54 feet, 5.5 inches, almost a foot shy of Warren's top throw this season.