May 24, 2008
Walnut, CA – Cassie Blazer twice earned All-America status on the final day of the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The University of Mary sophomore from Mandan, ND, placed fifth in the 400 meter hurdles after leading the Marauders 4x100 meter relay team to an eighth-place finish.
Blazer started championship Saturday by leading off U-Mary’s 4x100 meter relay team and pacing them to a time of 47.07. The squad’s eighth-place finish earned the quartet All-America honors, the first ever for U-Mary’s women’s outdoor team. Joining Blazer in earning All-America status was sophomore Kacie Sweep of Bismarck, ND, junior Mishay Weber of Beulah, ND, and Kristen Stewart, a freshman from Kingston, Jamaica.
After a strong start to the day, Blazer followed up with an even stronger performance in the 400 meter hurdles. She blazed her way to a fifth place finish in the event in a time of 1:00.70. It was Blazer’s best clocking in the event, besting her time of 1:01.28 from the preliminaries on day one of the championships. Blazer also improved her standing throughout the championships. She entered with the 12th best time nationally before placing sixth in the preliminaries before placing sixth and bringing home All-America honors.
The Marauders earned five points in the team standings from the two events. The total placed the Marauders 37th in the championships.
This was the first time the University of Mary competed at the NCAA D-II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. U-Mary became an active member of the NCAA in the fall of 2007 and the 2008 championships were the first opportunity for U-Mary to compete in the national tournament.
