The Dakota Wesleyan University track teams had four athletes earn all-conference honors Saturday at the Great Plains Athletic Conference championships in Lincoln, Neb.
Tamika Irvin set two school records as she finished first place in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes.
Irvin finished the 100 with a time of 11.92 seconds and completed the 200 in 24.33 seconds.
"I'm not surprised with her times," DWU track coach Pat Belling said. "I've always known she can run fast. We're not satisfied, though. The goal is to be an All-American."
To earn All-American status, an athlete must finish in the top eight at the national championships. Irvin's times in the 100 and 200 currently rank her in the top eight nationally.
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Belling also has set a goal for Derik Fossum to finish in the top eight at the national meet.
Fossum took third place at the GPAC championships in the triple jump with a mark of 47-feet, 11 inches. That distance is the 12th longest in the NAIA.
"He has been on a roll lately and I know he can go further," Belling said.
With one meet left on the Tigers' schedule, Irvin and Fossum are the only DWU athletes qualified for the national championships.
"We have goals of getting All-American status, and they're realistic with those two," Belling said.
Freshmen Katie Johnson and Lindsey Sanftner were the other two Tigers to earn all-GPAC honors.
Johnson took fifth in the javelin competition with a toss of 120-feet-2. Sanftner recorded a mark of 17-feet-4.75 in the long jump to finish seventh at the meet.
"They both had great attitudes," Belling said. "They weren't sitting in the top eight coming in, but they had their best performances at a time when it counted most."
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Belling was pleased with the performances and was excited to see many athletes hit personal bests.
Freshman Jessie Pederson took 18th place in the triple jump with a mark of 33-feet-11.5. Belling expects big things from her in the future.
"She really exceeded expectations, and she's going to be someone to watch next year," Belling said.
The final competition for the DWU teams will be the Concordia Twilight Meet Friday in Seward, Neb.
