Cornerstone University

Malinowski Walks Off With All-America Honors

May 23, 2009

(Edwardsville, IL) The second day of the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championships was another sweltering day at the Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville track. After the sun burned off the morning clouds, heat waves shimmered across the rubber turf infield as the temperature climbed past eighty degrees.

During the hottest part of the day, the 3000 meter race walk began. Katie Malinowski, who had the advantage of racing 20 kilometers in the south Texas heat in March held a consistent pace, steadily moving up through the field. With three laps to go she passed Emily Hansen of Concordia (NE) for sixth place. One lap later, Hansen blew by Malinowski. “She went by so fast, I knew she would wind up getting a mark [for a form violation],” Katie said after the race. The judges saw the same thing and since Hansen already had two marks she was shown the red card and disqualified half a lap later. Malinowski finished in 16:10.18 with no marks and earned her first Outdoor All-American plaque for finishing sixth.

Amy Boyer completed the final three events in the heptathlon, going 15’ 6” in the long jump, sending the javelin 70’ 9” and running the 800 meters in 2:35.32. Her total of 4104 points put her in 14^th place for the two-day event.

In the 400 meter hurdles, Kayla Wilson ran 1:04.36 to take eighth in her semi-final heat. She did not advance to the finals.