NEW ORLEANS (Blugolds.com) - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the men's and women's NCAA Division III Track and Field Athletes of the Year on Wednesday, with UW-Eau Claire's Carly Fehler (Sr.-Oak Creek, WI) earning top honors.
Fehler took home three national titles over the weekend, claiming her second-straight 100-meter dash championship with a time of 11.67. She is the only woman in school history to win the event. In the 200-meter, Fehler became the first national champion in school history and did so in record fashion. The senior won the 200 finals in 23.88 seconds to break her own school record of 23.94 set at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Outdoor Track and Field Championships on May 2, 2015 in La Crosse.
Anchoring the 4 x 100-meter relay team of Kelsey Worachek (Fr.-Appleton, WI/Xavier), Jessie Reineck (Jr.-Greenville, WI/Fox Valley Lutheran) and Lindsey Laufenberg (Sr.-Waunakee, WI), the relay won the school's first ever national title in the event with a time of 45.90 seconds. The time set a facility record and broke the previous school record of 46.19 seconds set on May 15, 2015 in La Crosse. It was the first time this year that any NCAA Division III women's 4 x 100-meter relay ran a sub 46-second relay.
Fehler finished her career as one of the fastest women in NCAA Division III history. Fehler's wind-aided 11.62 100-meter dash time at the WIAC championships earlier this season makes her the third fastest DIII 100 runner ever.
In addition, Fehler clocked in two top-ten times at the NCAA championships. Fehler's 200 win in 23.88 seconds makes her the eighth fastest DIII performer in the event and her 4×100 meter relay team's time of 45.90 at nationals is the second fastest in division history.
