LaMere and Williams Win National Titles!
On a rainy day one of the NCAA Championships, Ian LaMere began the day by becoming the first runner in Division III history to ever win the 10,000m race three years in a row. To end the day, Amber Williams won her first long jump national title.
GENEVA, Ohio – On a rainy day one of the NCAA Championships, Ian LaMere began the day by becoming the first runner in Division III history to ever win the 10,000m race three years in a row. To end the day, Amber Williams won her first long jump national title.
LaMere's feat was not made easy by UW-Eau Claire's Darin Lau. LaMere led for most of the race but could not shake off Lau. Lau took the lead with 800m to go and put a gap on LaMere. Going into the final lap, LaMere was two seconds behind and could not gain on Lau until the final turn. LaMere gave it all he had in the final straight away and closed the lead on Lau. In the final 15 meters LaMere was able to get in front of Lau and hold him off for the win. LaMere won by .04 seconds with a time of 29:15.12, breaking the stadium record by over a minute.
Amber Williams won the national title in the long jump late in the day. Her round three jump of 5.99m (19-8) held on as the best jump of the day. This is Williams' second national title but her first in the long jump. She had previously won the triple jump indoors in 2016. Williams will contest the triple jump on Saturday but first will compete in the 100m preliminary hurdles Friday.
Between the preliminary and final rounds of the long jump, Williams competed in the 4x400m preliminaries being joined by Megan Marotz, Bri Iwans, and Devan Montgomery. The relay ran a season best breaking 3:50 and advancing to finals but was later disqualified. The disqualification came from some contact that occurred between two runners that forced an opposing team to take a few steps on the inside of the track.
Marotz also competed in day one of the heptathlon. She began the day with a personal best in the 100m hurdles with a time of 15.10. She competed well in the high jump, shot put and 200m. After four events she is sitting in fifth place overall with 2753 points.
Cody Faust completed day one of the decathlon. He finished with a personal best in the 400m closing the first day with a 400m in 50.78. He currently sits in 17th place with 3228 points.
Action resumes tomorrow at 10:30am with the continuation of the Decathlon and the men's shot put competition.
