Batu-Tiako Posts Career Day at Heart Championship
Baldwin City, Kan.–Abigaille Batu-Tiako (Sr., Plattsburgh, N.Y., Business Management) enjoyed her best day ever in the navy and gold as the William Penn women’s track and field team competed at the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship Friday and Saturday.
As a team, WPU placed 10th out of 12 teams with 34 points, while MidAmerica Nazarene won the crown with 169.5 points. Benedictine was a close second with 162.75 points.
Batu-Tiako broke two school records and also qualified for NAIA Nationals later this month, accounting for 18 of the squad’s points.
The senior was the fastest woman at the Championship, winning the 100-meter dash in 12.34 seconds. She was also the top individual in the preliminary round in 12.10 seconds, breaking one of the oldest records in program history. The previous mark of 12.24 seconds was held by Renee Addison back in 1985.
Batu-Tiako also finished second in the long jump at 19-0, snapping her own record of 18-6.5 (2023, 2024). The distance eclipses the automatic-qualifying standard for nationals.
The 4×100-meter relay crew was next in scoring, taking fourth in 49.02 seconds, while the 4×800-meter relay team was sixth in 10:11.71.
Alexandra Rose (Jr., Quincy, Ill., Exercise Science) gave the Statesmen two point-scorers in the 100 as she ended up fifth in 12.87 seconds.
Erica Martin (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Sports Management) finished fifth as well, doing so in the shot put at 40-7.75.
Phoebe Burt (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Sociology) recorded two high finishes as well, placing ninth in the shot put (38-8.75) and 11th in the discus (124-7).
“Our women put on a show this weekend,” Head Coach Victoria Vinokur said. “They went out there and took points that were not theirs. Abi Batu-Tiako has been a force all year. To see her hit the “A” standard and place second in the long jump, while also becoming the 100-meter dash champion was amazing. She and our women’s squad really put their best foot forward today and we could not be more proud.”
