From University of Chicago Athletics
As a track star at University of Chicago, Michelle Dobbs already has six All-American honors to her credit. She's consistently found herself on the podium at the end of each season, both as part of a relay or in her specialty race – the 800 meters. On Saturday afternoon, she put up her best performance on the biggest stage and emerged as the national champion in the women's indoor 800-meter run.
The UChicago women's track and field team wrapped up the two-day NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships at Grinnell College with two more All-American feats for a weekend total of four.
Dobbs ran twice on Friday in the distance medley relay and the 800-meter prelims. She was the second seed headed into Saturday's 800-meter final. The junior had already posted times within the 2-minute-11-second mark in both of the previous races.
"Today, the other racers got out quick and Michelle was not in front right away," said Head Coach Chris Hall. "A quarter mile in, she moved to the lead and began to string it out. The runner who won prelims came onto her shoulder on the last curve, and Michelle really bore down and finished strong. Once she got to the front, she made sure that she held onto it and wouldn't let anyone pass her."
Dobbs posted a winning time of 2:11.34 to break her own school record. It marks the ninth national title in track and field history and the 17th overall for UChicago in all sports.
"She was ecstatic about winning," Hall said. "I think there was also a lot of relief. Michelle has been a high All-American the last two years, and she felt she was capable of winning. She got something she really coveted. What's fun about Michelle is she likes to be challenged. She was just excited to run and compete against the best in the country, and even if she hadn't won, that excitement would still be there."
Later in the day, sophomore Khia Kurtenbach secured her second All-American recognition in as many days. She broke the school record in the women's 3,000 meters with a time of 9:40.03 to take fourth place. Kurtenbach previously took sixth in the 5,000 meters and is now a three-time All-American this year, including one from cross country season.
The Maroons scored 19 team points and finished eighth out of 77 teams that scored points on the weekend.