Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
Results
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (Mar. 12, 2022) - The North Central College women's track and field team closed the indoor season with an individual national championship for the ninth time Saturday, as
Julia Babinec won a dramatic 60-meter hurdle final at the NCAA Division III Indoor Championships at JDL Fast Track.
Babinec and the University of Wisconsin-Stout's Hannah Zastrow appeared to cross the finish line in a virtual dead heat. Both were officially timed in 8.61 seconds, and Babinec was declared the winner by .003 of a second, 8.607-8.610. The title is the second in the event for the Cardinals since 2016 and the 17th in the program's history across the indoor and outdoor seasons.
North Central had two All-America performances during the weekend, as
Alexandra Draves placed eighth in the 20-pound weight throw, the first event to be contested Friday. Draves achieved a mark of 16.85 meters (55 feet, 3.50 inches) on the second of three preliminary throws to advance to the finals as the ninth of nine competitors. Draves continued to improve throughout the finals, recording distances of 56'11.25" (17.35m), 57'0" (17.37m) and 57'3.50" (17.46m) to move up to eighth and earn All-America status for the second time.
Lindsey Novak lowered her own school record to 25.42 seconds in the 200-meter dash, placing 10th in Friday's preliminaries, while
Denise Partee finished 19th in the heats of the 60-meter hurdles (9.12). The Cardinals had two entrants in Friday's pole vault competition, as
Natalie Johnson cleared a season-best 12'1.50" (3.70m) to place 13th and
Kathy Myrda tied for 14th with a clearance of 11'1.75" (3.40m).
With 11 total points, North Central tied for 19th in the team competition.
The Cardinals open the outdoor season Apr. 2 at the Benedictine University Invitational.
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