Gulf Shores, Alabama — Allison Birks claimed All-American honors in the heptathlon to highlight day two for the Northwestern women’s track and field team at the 2021 NAIA Outdoor Championships held in Gulf Shores, Ala.
In 11th place after the first four events on day one, Birks moved up three spots to eighth once today’s final event, the 800m run, concluded. The senior finished with 4,505 points in her final competition as a Red Raider; Morgan Luedy of Cornerstone won title with 5,041 points.
Birks began the day with the ninth best mark in the long jump (5.16m) and followed with a seventh place showing in the javelin (31.88m). She concluded the heptathlon with a personal best in the 800m (2:27), good for seventh place, and moved her up to eighth overall.
Becca Bindert recorded a toss of 12.88m on her first attempt in the shot put and placed 16th overall.
James Gilbert Jr. and Dylan Hendricks finished their 2021 season Thursday. Gilbert Jr. finished ninth out of 26 athletes in the long jump, recording his best mark, 23-11 (7.29m), on this third attempt in the preliminaries to put him into the finals. The sophomore jumped 7.24m on his first attempt in the finals and then scratched on his final two jumps.
Hendricks posted the 27th fastest time in the 5000m prelims (15:17) and did not qualify for the finals. The senior was eighth in his heat and had the fastest time of any GPAC runner in the event.
