Colorado Mesa University’s one-woman representation at the NCAA Division II national outdoor track and field championships is looking to come home with a triple.
Burnaby’s Whitney Rowe qualified for the upcoming Div. II nationals this week in Allendale, Michigan in three events and would like nothing better than to earn All-American honours in all of them, including the women’s 100 and 200 metres and long jump.
The Burnaby Mountain grad qualified for the nationals first overall at the recent South Central region championships in the 200m with a time of 23.81. Rowe also placed runner-up in the other two events with an 11.59 time in the sprint and a program-record leap of 6.10 metres in the field event to earn all-region honours in all three disciplines.
“It’s going to be the last time I get to put this jersey on,” Rowe said from a long-distance call with theNOWon May 14. “I have nothing to lose. I have worked too hard to second-guess myself.”
Rowe earned her very first All-American distinction in the 200 at last year’s outdoor championships. She added a second this season indoors, placing third in the 200m, the highest-ever finish for a Colorado Mesa track athlete. At this week’s nationals, Rowe would like nothing better than to add three more such honours at the outdoor nationals.
She will also be wearing the lucky white singlet that she first wore when she accomplished the feat.
“I got my All-American in it,” she said. “I thought, ‘I’m never washing it,’ but ever since I’ve been wearing it. I run good in it. It’s been working good.”
To say things have worked out for the graduating senior is also understated.
Rowe had to forgo a full-ride scholarship to a Div. I school out of high school because of untransferable credits, but has since worked hard to earn her bachelor degree in counselling psychology, which she received last weekend.
“I’m fortunate to be where I am,” she said.
Now, Rowe is hoping to finish her university career on the track the same way.
“It’s been pretty cool. It’s the highest I’ve been ranked,” Rowe said, adding the support she is getting from her friends and teammates at school and back home is awesome. “I’m enjoying the experience.”
Since coming into the fledgling athletic program at the Grand Junction campus, approximately 300 kilometres west of Denver, Rowe has written her own record book many times over in her choice of events.
Rowe leaves the program with eight indoor and outdoor school records, including seven new ones this season. Her best time in the 100m is 11.56 and 23.74 in the 200m. She also owns a share of the program’s 4x100m relay mark.
The Burnaby sprinter will be coming into the nationals ranked seventh overall in both sprints and eighth in the long jump. She needs a top-eight finish to earn the All-American standard.
“I’m confident I can do it. I’m definitely ready. I’m looking forward to next weekend,” she said.
