Batu-Tiako Closes Out Career with First All-America Award Since 2011

Marion, Ind.--Abigaille Batu-Tiako (Sr., Plattsburgh, N.Y., Business Management) snapped a long All-America drought for the Statesmen women's track and field program as she and two of her teammates competed at the 43rd Annual NAIA National Championship Wednesday through Friday.

WPU tied for 61st place with one point, while British Columbia rolled to the national title with 137 points.

Batu-Tiako became the 21st All-American in program history when she placed eighth in Wednesday's long jump with a mark of 19-0, tying her own school record in the process.  She is William Penn's first female All-American since the 2011 outdoor season (Katie Burnett, 5,000-meter race walk).

The senior is the first long jump All-American in program history as well.

On Thursday, Erica Martin (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Sports Management) placed 16th in the shot put with a mark of 44-6.75, while on Friday, Phoebe Burt (Jr., Iowa City, Iowa, Sociology) finished 28th in the discus with a distance of 131-2.

"We were definitely fortunate with some good weather and the marks showed," Head Coach Victoria Vinokur said.  "We tell our athletes that a lot of the time you just have to go hit the 'A' standard or a little bit better and you will have a great chance of getting on that podium.  Abigaille did just that when she hit her exact PR.  She has been working hard all year with quite a few bumps in the road.  It was great to see it all pay off and her to be on the podium.  To have three women qualify is just the start of what this young women's team is capable of in the future."