Three seniors earn All-American honours at NCAA Championships

Three Simon Fraser University seniors concluded their collegiate careers with All-American performances at the 2019 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Saturday at Javelina Stadium.
 
In the women's 800m final, Alana Mussatto ran a 2:11.38 to come sixth while Sophie Dodd crossed the line at 2:15.37 to place eighth. The leaders commanded the race from start to finish but Mussatto had a strong first 400 to set herself up for a strong finish. Dodd ran the race of her life in the prelim on Friday and followed it up with a consistent showing in the final. This is the pair's first All-American finish in an individual event.

After receiving third-place All-American honour in the steeplechase the day before, Julia Howley ended her impressive career at SFU finishing fourth in the 5000m with a mark of 17:22.23. She stayed with the lead pack throughout the race and ran the second fastest time in the final lap to secure her second piece of hardware in two days.

Miryam Bassett entered the final of the 1500m with the seventh fastest time following the prelims. The final was a tactical battle between the 12 runners with Bassett running on the outside of the large pack. Moves were made with just over a lap remaining leaving it to a contest of who had the best finishing kick. The field strung out and she would finish in 11th with a time of 4:42.81.

Lauren Fridman competed at the start of the day in the first flight of the javelin. Battling the windy conditions, the senior threw a mark of 38.30m (125' 8“) in her first of three attempts to place 22nd. Her second throw came up a bit shorter at 36.98m and her third was ruled foul.

Overall, Simon Fraser earned four All-American finishes over the three-day National Championships meet. The women's team scored 15 points to finish 15th in the team rankings.