Freshman Griffin earns All-American honors: Women’s track team brings three to championships

After a very successful freshman year on the Griffin track and field team, Mallory Sanner was the first female athlete at Seton Hill University (SHU) to earn All American honors. Sanner was one of three SHU Griffins to attend the 2012 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Pueblo, CO.

Sanner threw her personal best (48.09 meters) and finished in fifth place tying with two male athletes for the highest ever finish for a SHU athlete. Her throw was also a new SHU javelin record.

“I can’t even explain how happy I was when I knew I am an all American. I was ecstatic!” said Sanner. “I was happy that I got that title and made some history for SHU. I couldn’t be happier with my performance going in as a freshman.”

Sanner beat her previous javelin record on her first throw and continued to throw further and further. She was in third place when she entered the finals. Sanner was the top freshman javelin participant in the country.

“The experience was amazing. It really opened my eyes and showed me what kind of competition is out there outside of the WVIAC. I can’t wait to go back. I hope to bring home first place one of the years. Hopefully I can qualify for whatever the next level is after nationals,” Sanner said.

Sanner participated in track throughout high school at Uniontown High School, up to the state level. Her experiences there were helpful when preparing for nationals, according to Sanner.

“I didn’t really exactly know what to expect going into nationals because I had never been there, but I knew there was going to be really good competitors who were better than me. I just had to focus and do the best I could,” said Sanner.

Sanner was joined by junior Cassie Boyd who participated in the triple jump and high jump and sophomore Stephanie Pryor who participated in the 10,000 meter run. Boyd placed 10th and 13th respectively, achieving a SHU record and career best in the high jump with a jump of 1.73 meters. Her triple jump of 12.0 meters kept her from the finals.

Pryor finished 15th in her race, running the 10,000 meters with a time of 39:02:04.

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