8/7/2019 National Track Athlete of the Week

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Birru Selected as National Track Athlete of the WeekGrand View Universitys Obsie Birru (Des Moines, Iowa) has been selected as this weeks NAIAWomens Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week the national office announced Wednesday. Birruwas selected based upon her performances at the Wartburg Select on April 2nd.Birru competed in three events at the Wartburg Select. She won the 1,500m in an NAIAautomatic qualifying time of 4:39.33, which is the fourth fastest time posted in the NAIA thisseason. Birru then came back later in the day to win the 5,000m run. Her time of 17:10.99 is theleading time in the NAIA and also broke the previous school record set by Birru. In her third raceof the day, Birru placed second in the 800m run with a GV school record mark of 2:16.97.This is Birrus second national honor this year; she was the NAIA Womens Indoor Track Athleteof the Week on February 16th.

Obsie's number; 515-720-9260

Womens Track & Field 4th at Wartburg Select; Birru and Camp Qualify for NationalsThe Grand View womens track & field team placed fourth out of 15 teams at the Wartburg Selectin Waverly on Saturday. The Vikings were up against some tough competition facing the hostKnights of Wartburg College who were the NCAA Division III national runners-up during the

indoor season and the Iowa Central Tritons that placed third at the NJCAA indoorchampionships. Wartburg walked away with the team title scoring 160.5 points, doubling the 80points put up by UW-La Crosse and Iowa Central who tied for second place. The Vikings wereonly four points behind posting a score of 76 points on the day.Junior All-American Lauryn Camp got things rolling for Grand View by placing third in the hammerthrow with a GV school record and NAIA B standard national qualifying mark of 48.52m whichcurrently ranks her 12th in the nation. Fellow All-American Obsie Birru continued her dominanceon the track winning the 1,500m in an NAIA automatic qualifying time of 4:39.33 which is thefourth fastest time posted in the NAIA this season. She then came back later in the day to winthe 5,000m run with the leading time in the NAIA posting a 17:10.99 breaking her own schoolrecord. Birru also placed 2nd in the 800m run with a GV school record mark of 2:16.97. SadieFisher made her Grand View debut in the 3,000m steeplechase running a lifetime personal bestwhile breaking the school record with time a 12:27.43.

The Vikings will be back in action next Saturday at the Cornell Invitational in Mt. Vernon, Iowa.Field events will begin at 10am followed by running events at 11am.Wells & Westerkamp Qualify for NationalsThe Viking men competed against some of the top small college track & field programs in theMidwest at the Wartburg Select in Waverly on Saturday. Junior captain Tyler Wells had anoutstanding day of competition as he won the shot put hitting an NAIA automatic nationalqualifying mark of 16.25m breaking his own school record and currently ranking him fourth in thenation. He then came back later in the day to place seventh out of 51 competitors in the discuswith a lifetime best and school record toss of 45.23m.

Pete Westerkamp placed third in the decathlon surpassing the NAIA B standard scoring 5,581pts., which currently ranks him fourth in the nation. The Viking 4x100m relay team of TitusBland, Zach Vos, Toi Jones, and Wes Hammer placed sixth overall in their season debut.

Iowa Central Community College won the men's team title scoring 172 points. Augustana College(IL) was second with 136 points followed by UW-Whitewater in third with 105 points.

The Vikings will be back in action next Saturday at the Cornell Invitational in Mt. Vernon. Fieldevents will begin at 10am followed by running events at 11am.

8/7/2019 National Track Athlete of the Week

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Birru & Wells MCC Track & Field Athletes of the WeekTwo members of the Grand View track & field teams were honored by the MCC Monday. JuniorObsie Birru was voted as the MCC Womens Track Athlete of the Week and Tyler Wells wastabbed as the MCC Mens Field Athlete of the Week.Birru and Wells were recognized for their performances at the Wartburg Select over the weekend.Birru won the 1,500m in an NAIA automatic qualifying time of 4:39.33 which is the fourth fastesttime posted in the NAIA this season. She also won the 5,000m in school record breaking time of17:10.99, which is the fastest time in the NAIA. Birru also placed second in the 800m run with aGV school record time of 2:16.97.Wells won the shot put with an NAIA automatic national qualifying mark of 16.25m. He broke hisown school record and currently ranks fourth in the nation. Wells also placed seventh out of 51competitors in the discus with a lifetime best and school record toss of 45.23m.