If Saturday’s NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships were any indication, the next three years could go very quickly for Colorado State University-Pueblo. Two freshmen were named All-Americans for the ThunderWolves, the first time the school has been so honored since 1993.
Devundrick Walker and Derrick Williams finished sixth in the 800 meter run and third in the 1,500 meter run, respectively, to earn their first outdoor All-American honors. Williams was a two-time indoor All-American this season, anchoring the men’s distance medley relay team to a national runner-up finish and finishing second in the 3,000 meter run, as well.
Walker was just off his personal best (1:50.28) on Saturday with a time of 150.80. He was the top-finishing freshman in the race and one of just two in the qualifying field.
On the women’s side, freshmen Rachel Lopez finished ninth in the 1,500 meter run.
Two other freshmen, Alyssa Evans and Dueth Vassall, competed in qualifying heats for the women’s 400 meter and men’s 800 and 400 meter runs, respectively, on Thursday and Friday, but failed to qualify for Saturday’s championships.
The men’s team was competing in the outdoor championships for the first time since 1993 and the women’s team returned to the championships after a sixth place finish last year. With so many talented young runners on the roster, hopes are high in Pueblo for a national championship chase these next three years.
