Wayne State thrower Kacie O’Connor finished 18th out of 21 competitors in the women’s discus Friday at the NCAA Div. II Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Bradenton, Fla.
The sophomore from Sundance, Wyo., posted a top mark of 141 feet, 1 inch on her third and final throw in prelims after recording a mark of 140-6 on her first attempt and a foul on the second. A mark of 153-5 was needed to qualify for the finals.
O’Connor entered the national meet with the 10th-best mark in NCAA Div. II after winning the NSIC discus title May 7 in Sioux Falls, S.D. with a personal-best mark of 158-7. It was the fourth straight year that Wayne State had a national qualifier in the women’s discus. Two-time All American Sara Wells represented the Wildcats at nationals the previous three years, while Michaela Dendinger qualified in the discus last season, earning All-American honors.