MARION, Ind. – The Yotes had three runners in the last day of the NAIA Track and Field Champions today. All three would put in All-America finishes.
Abbey Shirts was the first Yote to run today. Wednesday, she ran the 1500m semi-final as well as a leg in the 4x800m semifinal and ran in the 4x800m final yesterday which earned her All-America with the team finishing in fourth place. Today, she pulled of one last incredible performance of the season. She finished in fifth place with a 4:30.83 time, earning her another All-America honor. When asked about Shirts, Head Coach
Dominic Bolin said of the now fourteen time All-American that he is "… really happy with Abbey's race today. I knew she was tired from all the racing this week, but as she has done her whole career here at C of I, she went out and performed. I've never coached a more consistent racer. It doesn't matter how she feels, who is in the race, or the weather, she always gets the job done. She ends her time with us with another sensational national meet, also leaves our program as one of the most decorated athletes ever. I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been her coach."
Hunter Gilbert, who also plays running back for the Yotes' football team, qualified for the 400m hurdles final. In his seventh ever running of the 400m hurdles, Gilbert ran a 52.40 in the biggest stage earning him All-America honors with his fifth-place finish. Speaking about the school record hurdler, Bolin said "I am thrilled with Hunter's performance today. He is one of the best competitors I've ever been around. All he wants to do is beat people. He has been a part of 4 school records this year, and he just broke his own school record again today. He is constantly trying to make himself better, and in return, he makes his coach and team better. He is a special person".
The final Yote to compete this year was none other than
Ellyse Tingelstad. Recently honored as the Cascade Collegiate Conference Female Scholar of the Year, she ran her heart out this week. She competed in both the 10k and 5k this week at the NAIA Championships. Day one of the meet she finished second place in the 10k earning her All-America. Yesterday, with heavy legs from the night before she barely squeaked into today's final. Tingelstad managed to find one more push, finishing a career to remember with a third-place finish with a 17:33.77 which earned her tenth All-America honor of her terrific career. Bolin said about the Indoor 5k NAIA National Champion "...is mentally the toughest athlete I've ever coached. This is now back-to-back years she has done the 10k/5k double, and she has been top 3 in those events every time. She always shows up, no matter the circumstances. Elly ends her storied career as one of the most decorated athletes in not just our program, but our school. There will be another Elly Tingelstad. I'm Incredibly lucky to have coached during her time with us".
With the NAIA Track & Field events drawn to a close, so has the Yote Athletics 2023-2024 season. Commencement will be held for graduating seniors tomorrow at 10am on the steps of Boone Hall.
