PITTSBURG, Kan. – Winona State track and field sophomore Kaitlyn Long successfully capped off what likely will be remembered as the greatest indoor season by a Division II weight thrower in history Friday, shattering a pair of records en route to her second consecutive national championship at the NCAA Indoor Championships at the Robert W. Plaster Center in Pittsburg, Kansas.
While her national championship last season was a pleasant surprise, this one was expected. But Long didn't simply win, she shattered a pair of records in the process – and didn't take long to do it. Not only was Long's very first throw of 74' 5 ¾" (22.70m) the winning throw, it soared past the previous National Championship meet record of 69' ¾" set in 2013 by Sam Lockhart of Grand Valley State.
Furthermore, Long's throw broke her own Division II record of 73' (22.25m), which she set earlier this year.
The championship marks WSU's fifth individual national title and third in the past year, with Long winning last season's indoor title and Alissa Rausch claiming the discus championship in the outdoor season.
Teammate senior Abbey Ristow also competed in the event, finishing 17th with her best throw reaching 53' 6 ¼" (16.31m).
Junior sprinter Megan Seidl also turned in some of the best times in WSU history while competing in a pair of events, finishing 12th in the 400-meter dash with a time of 55.41, the second-best time in WSU history, while finishing 16th in the 200-meter dash, breaking her own WSU record time of 24.96.
Long competes in the shot put national championship Saturday at 4:35 p.m. in Pittsburg.
