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NCAA Outdoor Championships
Dodd Earns First-Team All-America Honor
June 10, 2017 | Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Dodd takes fifth in the 800-meter run
Eugene, Ore. – Cowgirl junior Kaylee Dodd earned a spot on the podium Saturday at the final day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, when she took fifth in the 800-meter final in a personal best 2:03.38.
The All-America honor was her first as a Cowgirl, and comes just a few months after she narrowly missed out on a spot in the 800-meter final at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
"I believe everything happens for a reason, as cheesy at that may sound," Dodd said. "If I did make that final, you never know what would have happened because that was my fire all outdoors. Today I was thinking, 'you might never get this opportunity again,' so I wanted to give it everything I had to make up for me missing out on indoors."
Dodd's new personal best came just two days after she set her previous PR of 2:04.35 in the semifinal, and it replaces the No. 4 time in Cowgirl history.
Despite running from the back of the pack for the first 600 meters, Dodd, and the other seven competitors, recorded sub-60-second splits during the opening lap. Dodd's split of 59.43 was the fastest of her career.
"After about 150 meters, I thought maybe it's not my day because everyone was flying past me, but then I looked at the clock and it was at 26-27 and I thought, OK, maybe I should just chill a little bit," Dodd said. "I knew we would come through at 59, so I was mentally prepared for it. The race definitely hurt a lot, but I'm pleased."
In similar fashion to her semifinal race, Dodd closed the gap on the pack with less than 100 meters to go and passed three runners on the last 50 meters to take fifth.
"The last 100 meters didn't feel as comfortable as the other day, but I know I can finish strong and I saw two girls and tried to pick off as many as I could," Dodd said. "It was a big PB, so I can't complain. My aim was to finish in the top-half, but I can't be disappointed."
The first-team honor is the Cowgirls' ninth in the 800 since 2011, and third outdoors in that time. Former Cowgirl national champion Nataljia Piliusina and Cowgirl seniors Savannah Camacho and Kaela Edwards own the other eight honors.
"I've known for a while that after this year, I would have to step up a lot," Dodd said. "It's always hard to follow in the footsteps of great athletes like that. If I can be half the athlete that Savannah, Kaela and Nataljia are, I'll be pleased and I think I'm starting to get there."
Dodd's outdoor season saw her top her outdoor personal best in three consecutive races, including Saturday's title race. She also finished runner-up in the 800 behind Camacho at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships. It was her third all-conference honor of the year after her finish in the 800 indoors and her first conference title in the distance medley relay.
Ieva Zarankaite's breakout junior season ended with a 20th-place finish in the women's discus throw.
Zarankaite landed a throw of 49.70m/163-1 feet on her final attempt to finish the season with second-team All-America honors.
The first honor of her career capped off a season that included three all-conference honors, and she was the only Cowgirl to earn a trip to the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in two events.
The NCAA Women's Outdoor team title was won by the Oregon Ducks with 64 points, and the Cowgirls finished 48th with four.
Oregon's championship celebration marks the conclusion of the track and field season in the NCAA.
OSU takes the summer off, and then will turn its attention toward this fall's cross country season. The Cowboys will be seeking a 10th-consecutive Big 12 title, and the Cowgirls are on the hunt for their second conference team title in three years.
NCAA Outdoor Championships | June 10, 2017 | Eugene, Oregon
Women's Results
800 Meters Final
5. Kaylee Dodd – 2:03.38
Discus Throw
20. Ieva Zarankaite – 49.70m/163-1
Final Team Standings
1. Oregon - 64 pts.
2. Georgia - 62.2
3. Southern California - 43
4. Kentucky - 40
5. Florida - 39
---
48. Oklahoma State – 4
The All-America honor was her first as a Cowgirl, and comes just a few months after she narrowly missed out on a spot in the 800-meter final at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
"I believe everything happens for a reason, as cheesy at that may sound," Dodd said. "If I did make that final, you never know what would have happened because that was my fire all outdoors. Today I was thinking, 'you might never get this opportunity again,' so I wanted to give it everything I had to make up for me missing out on indoors."
Dodd's new personal best came just two days after she set her previous PR of 2:04.35 in the semifinal, and it replaces the No. 4 time in Cowgirl history.
Despite running from the back of the pack for the first 600 meters, Dodd, and the other seven competitors, recorded sub-60-second splits during the opening lap. Dodd's split of 59.43 was the fastest of her career.
"After about 150 meters, I thought maybe it's not my day because everyone was flying past me, but then I looked at the clock and it was at 26-27 and I thought, OK, maybe I should just chill a little bit," Dodd said. "I knew we would come through at 59, so I was mentally prepared for it. The race definitely hurt a lot, but I'm pleased."
In similar fashion to her semifinal race, Dodd closed the gap on the pack with less than 100 meters to go and passed three runners on the last 50 meters to take fifth.
"The last 100 meters didn't feel as comfortable as the other day, but I know I can finish strong and I saw two girls and tried to pick off as many as I could," Dodd said. "It was a big PB, so I can't complain. My aim was to finish in the top-half, but I can't be disappointed."
The first-team honor is the Cowgirls' ninth in the 800 since 2011, and third outdoors in that time. Former Cowgirl national champion Nataljia Piliusina and Cowgirl seniors Savannah Camacho and Kaela Edwards own the other eight honors.
"I've known for a while that after this year, I would have to step up a lot," Dodd said. "It's always hard to follow in the footsteps of great athletes like that. If I can be half the athlete that Savannah, Kaela and Nataljia are, I'll be pleased and I think I'm starting to get there."
Dodd's outdoor season saw her top her outdoor personal best in three consecutive races, including Saturday's title race. She also finished runner-up in the 800 behind Camacho at the Big 12 Outdoor Championships. It was her third all-conference honor of the year after her finish in the 800 indoors and her first conference title in the distance medley relay.
Ieva Zarankaite's breakout junior season ended with a 20th-place finish in the women's discus throw.
Zarankaite landed a throw of 49.70m/163-1 feet on her final attempt to finish the season with second-team All-America honors.
The first honor of her career capped off a season that included three all-conference honors, and she was the only Cowgirl to earn a trip to the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in two events.
The NCAA Women's Outdoor team title was won by the Oregon Ducks with 64 points, and the Cowgirls finished 48th with four.
Oregon's championship celebration marks the conclusion of the track and field season in the NCAA.
OSU takes the summer off, and then will turn its attention toward this fall's cross country season. The Cowboys will be seeking a 10th-consecutive Big 12 title, and the Cowgirls are on the hunt for their second conference team title in three years.
NCAA Outdoor Championships | June 10, 2017 | Eugene, Oregon
Women's Results
800 Meters Final
5. Kaylee Dodd – 2:03.38
Discus Throw
20. Ieva Zarankaite – 49.70m/163-1
Final Team Standings
1. Oregon - 64 pts.
2. Georgia - 62.2
3. Southern California - 43
4. Kentucky - 40
5. Florida - 39
---
48. Oklahoma State – 4
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Middle Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Middle Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Throws
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