Concordias Amanda Davis Earns NAIA Racewalk Qualifying Mark
SEATTLE - Concordia University’s racewalk contingent continued their winning ways at the NAIA 5k/3k Qualifier that was held this past weekend in Seattle at West Seattle Stadium.
The race was organized in conjunction with the annual Pacific Northwest Track and Field Northwest Regional Masters meet. Racewalkers from the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Concordia competed in both the 5,000- and 3,000-meter event.
Amanda Davis qualified for the NAIA outdoor national championship with a provisional mark after walking the 3,000 in a time of 17:42.0. Narrowly missing the automatic time of 17:35, Davis’ time currently ranks her nationally as ninth overall in the NAIA. In her first full season of racewalk, Davis has dropped a full five minutes off her mark from last year.
Newcomer Kristen Hamman, after only three weeks of training, turned in an impressive 22:15 that improved on her personal record by a full minute.
Davis finished third and Hamman fourth behind the top two ranked racewalkers in the NAIA, both from UBC. Nicola Evangelista finished first in a time of 14:48.1 and Megan Huzzey followed in a time of 14:49.9.
After the race, all of the Concordia walkers received high marks and praise from the numerous Master level USATF officials that judged the event. They praised their fine form and technique that allowed them all to walk legal and fast in their first short race of the season.
Women’s Results 3,000: 1. Nicola Evangelista, British Columbia, 14:48.1; 2. Megan Huzzey, British Columbia, 14:49.4; 3. Amanda Davis, Concordia, 17:42.0; 4. Kristin Hamman, Concordia, 22:15.3.