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EMPORIA, Kan. – Don't blink, or you may miss her. Sprinter
Yakubu Balikis is set to participate in the 100 and 200 meters at the 2024 NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships, starting this weekend from Zola Witten Track at Francis G. Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State University.
Below is the schedule for Balikis this week (all times are approximate).
- Thursday, 6:25 p.m. – 100 Meter Preliminaries
- Friday, 5:45 p.m. – 200 Meter Preliminaries
- Saturday, 3:35 p.m. – 100 Meter Finals
- Saturday, 4:50 p.m. – 200 Meter Finals
UWA is making its fifth appearance in the NCAA Championships in the first 12 seasons of the program (2018-19-21-22-24).
Balikis is the second UWA student-athlete to participate in the 100 meters at the championship, joining
Kaitlin Hill's 2022 time of 12.28. Additionally, she is the first West Alabama student-athlete to participate in the 200 meters.
The graduate student qualified for the national championship after finishing as the top sprinter in the conference and the South Region. Additionally, she was named
All-Region earlier this week.
The Lagos, Nigeria native has picked up her share of superlatives this season. The head coaches of the Gulf South Conference named her the unanimous selection as the
GSC Track Athlete of the Year.
At the GSC Championships earlier this month, Balikis shattered the 100 and 200 records in the prelims and improved her marks in the finals. Earning First Team honors in both events, she sprinted to an 11.27 in the 100 and 23.16 in the 200. Along the way, she has etched her name in the UWA records as well.
According to the NCAA record book, the meet record for the 100 meters came in 2009 with an 11.18. The 200 record is 22.62, set in 2013.
Over the course of the season, Balikis has medaled 14 times during the 2024 season, including nine gold medals.
Live coverage can be found at
uwaathletics.com/live.
