by JON DYKSTRA The Iola Register | March 8, 2017
PITTSBURG — The Allen Community College track and field team has once again out-performed expectations at the NJCAA Indoor National Championships.
Coming into the national meet in Pittsburg, the Red Devils were projected to finish 20th on the women's side. Kaitlyn Shoemaker lead Allen to a 11th overall, their best finish since 2014.
"It was really a great meet for the men and women," Allen coach Vince DeGrado said. "All and all, considering we aren't a fully operational track program, we are just in a few events."
The women's team was largely carried by an outstanding performance from sophomore distance-specialist Kaitlyn Shoemaker.
Shoemaker won an individual national championship in the 5,000-meter run with a 17:30.01. Freshman Abby Steinhauser finished eighth in the same race with a 18:46.40, a personal-best for her.
Later on Friday, Shoemaker laced them up again and ran in the 3,000-meter run. The Missouri Western State University commitment finished as the runner up with a 10:13.57, which also earned her All-American status for that event too.
"What can you say? It was expected in the 5K and the 3K was impressive because it wasn't as expected there," DeGrado said. "The 5K was over after a mile and a half, she led the entire thing."
DeGrado says that "barring injury, illness or getting hit by anything, she win the 10,000 meters at the Outdoor National Championships." That will make Shoemaker the most decorated track athlete on the female side in school history.
Shoemaker added to the team's point total by combining with Hannah Johnson, Maria Puente and Vicky Ibarra to place fifth in the 4x800-meter relay. They set a new school record with a 9:44.11.
Puente and Johnson joined forces again with Keshema Fleming and Kristina Silvers to take ninth in the distance medley relay.
Women - Team Rankings - 20 Events Scored
1) New Mexico 121 2) Iowa Central 116 3) South Plains 73 4) Barton County 70 5) Central Arizona 39 6) Iowa Western 38 7) Vincennes 34 8) Mesa 32 9) Monroe College 28 10) Western Texas College 25 11) Allen County 23 12) Essex 20 13) Cowley County 19 13) Paradise Valley 19 15) Hutchinson 16 15) Cuyahoga 16 17) Cloud County 15 18) Butler 14 19) Colby 13 19) Coffeyville 13 21-T) Highland 8 21-T) Pima 8 23-T) Dodge City 7 23-T) Kingsborough 7 25) Meridian 3 26) Johnson County 2
WOMEN
W Distance Medley Relay
9th, 12:58.46 (Hannah Johnson, Keshema Fleming, Maria Puente, Kristina Silvers)
W 5000m
Kaitlyn Shoemaker – 1st, 17:30.01 – National Champion – NJCAA All American
Abby Shoemaker – 8th, 18:46.40 – personal best
Vicky Ibarra – 13th, 19:03.77
W 400m prelims
Keshema Fleming – 26th, 59.69 – personal best
W 3000m
Kaitlyn Shoemaker – 2nd, 10:13.57 – National Runner Up – NJCAA All American
Vicky Ibarra – 15th, 11:08.92
Kristina Silvers – 16th, 11:21.41
W 4x800m relay
5th, 9:44.11 (Hannah Johnson, Kaitlyn Shoemaker, Maria Puente, Vicky Ibarra) – new school record
Triple Jump
Asha Alvarez – 15th, 10.94m (35-10.75)