BROOKINGS, S.D. – Hellen Maasotuo single-handedly made Union College women’s indoor track & field history as she placed third in both the 600 meter and 800 meter races on Saturday at the 2019 NAIA National Championship Meet.
The NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championship hosted by Dakota State University took place at the Sanford Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D.
By virtue of placing third in both events, Maasotuo scored 12 points for the Bulldogs to place them 24th out of 58 teams. This marks the most points ever scored by the Union women at nationals as well as it is the team’s highest finish in program history.
Maasotuo is also the first male or female in Union track history to earn multiple NAIA All-American honors at a single indoor national championship event.
In the 600, she improved on her school-record time in crossing the line in 1:34.18 for third place. Maasotuo was 1.64 seconds behind winner Jezelle Shaw of Southern University in New Orleans (La.).
Approximately 40 minutes later, Maasotuo toed the line to race the 800 final. She posted a solid time of 2:15.35, which is .03 off the school record she set on Friday. Despite the strong effort, Maasotuo finished third, crossing the line 0.93 seconds behind first-place Emma Jankowski of Bethel College (Ind.).
One other Bulldog competed on Saturday. Donovan Johnson took flight in the men’s triple jump, placing 17th with a distance of 14.06 meters.
