Batu-Tiako Qualifies for Nationals as WPU Competes at Pittsburg State, St. Ambrose
Pittsburg, Kan./Davenport–Abigaille Batu-Tiako (Sr., Plattsburgh, N.Y., Business Management) qualified for nationals as she paced the women’s track and field teams at two separate meets Friday and Saturday.
Batu-Tiako guided the Statesmen at the Pittsburg State Gorilla Classic on Friday, hitting the provisional standard in the long jump with a new school-record mark of 18-1.75. The senior placed ninth overall.
At the St. Ambrose Tune Up on Saturday, the Statesmen placed fourth out of six teams with 62 points. Host SAU won the team crown with 198 points.
Charlotte Hele (Apple Valley, Calif., Undecided) headlined the navy and gold efforts as she won the one-mile run with a time of 5:50.54.
Erica Martin (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Sports Management) had a pair of top-five finishes, taking second in the shot put at 40-8.75 and placing fourth in the weight throw at 45-8.5.
Alexandra Rose (Jr., Quincy, Ill., Exercise Science) earned silver as well, doing so in the 60-meter dash in 7.89 seconds. Grace Willms (Fr., Monticello, Iowa, Psychology) was also a high finisher in the 60, taking sixth in 8.30 seconds. The freshman also ended up sixth in the 200-meter dash (27.48).
Vashanti Glover (Fr., Davenport, Iowa, Exercise Science), in seventh at 27.54, and Tabitha Rogers (So., Venice, Calif., Elementary Education), in 10th at 27.92, managed top-10 efforts in the 200 as well.
Briana Admire (Fr., Galesburg, Ill., Biology) claimed bronze in the 800-meter run in 2:32.23, while Phoebe Burt (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Sociology) was third in the shot put (39-3) and 11th in the weight throw (39-0.5).
“We continue to push and strive for success and this weekend was no different, even with split squads,” Head Coach Victoria Vinokur said. “Abi Batu-Tiako is really coming into her own in the long jump and has been on the cusp of qualifying all season. To finally see her hit it and her reaction was priceless. She is peaking at the right time of the season. Our ladies at St. Ambrose continued their PR dominance across the board. Heading into the conference meet, they are setting themselves up really well to go make some noise.”
Next Up: William Penn travels to Maryville, Mo. next Friday and Saturday to compete in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship.
