ALLENDALE, MI – Rising to the occasion one final time in a legendary University of Mary career, D'Andra Morris walked off a champion. The senior set the standard early in the day and proved impossible to catch in winning the triple jump crown at the 2022 NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
This is the second national championship for the native of Kingston, Jamaica. Morris also won the triple jump championship at the 2022 NCAA indoor meet in March when she became the first Marauder to win an NCAA title in a field event.
 
Morris officially won the event with a final mark of 13.05 meters (42-9.75) on her final attempt of the day, but the competition was much closer.
 
After scratching on her first attempt of the day, Morris exploded for a mark of 12.91 meters on her second attempt. In the third and final round in the preliminaries, Marie-Jeanne Ourega of the Academy of Art landed a jump of 12.90 meters to move into second. In the final round defending champion Taylor Nelloms of West Texas A&M had the top mark of the championship round at 12.87 meters until one last attempt by Morris.
 
Morris, who had misfired on her third and fourth attempts, landed a mark of 12.84 meters on her fifth jump. The 8-time All-American had the title sewed up when the last two competitors – Ourega and Nelloms – scratched to seal the victory, Morris took a victory jump and crushed the competition with a jump of 13.05, a fitting exclamation mark on a tremendous season and a fabled career.
 
"It was a special day for our program and a walk off into the sunset type of moment for D'Andra," said Marauders interim head coach Cale Korbelik. "I have never seen anybody handle a big moment so calmly. It just seemed after every jump she was getting better and better. She ended the day with her best mark to win the Triple Jump National Championship. But she was disappointed in herself because she knew she had a bigger one in her. That's the type of competitor she is, competing to be her best self. On her third jump she had a huge jump but scratched by less than an inch. It was the best jump of her career, well over 44 feet and I was happy to be able to watch it. I know it would've shattered the record books. The title is hers, indoor and outdoor; what an impressive accomplishment.
 
"Coach Aaron Teigen has done a phenomenal job with coaching D'Andra and the jumps group. Aaron should get a lot of credit for what he is doing with this national caliber event group.
 
"As a staff and team, we are so proud. D'Andra is now in the realm of UMary greats like Ida Narbuvoll, Alexis Zeis, Mel Agnew, Jamey Mulske and Cindy Leingang."
 
The runner-up in the triple jump at both the 2021 NCAA indoor and outdoor championships, Morris is the 8th UMary scholar-athlete to win an NCAA championship and the first to do so in a field event.
 
The previous University of Mary NCAA national champions are Ida Narbuvoll (Outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 in 2021), Alexis Zeis (Cross Country in 2015 and the Indoor 5,000 meter run in 2017 and 2018), Jennifer Agnew (Cross Country in 2013), Melissa Agnew (Outdoor 1500 meter run in 2013 and Indoor mile run in 2012), and the 2012 UMary Distance Medley Relay Team of Dakota Wolf, Kathryn Stewart, Bri Lynch and Melissa Agnew.
 
Morris, who placed 8th in the long jump Thursday on the opening day of the 2022 NCAA outdoor championships, is now a 8-time All-American.
 
Tereza Bolibruch will race for the national championship on Saturday in the 100 meter hurdles. The two-time second team All-American advanced to the finals after clearing the barriers in a time of 13.93 seconds. Despite hitting the ninth hurdle, Bolibruch placed third in the second heat and claimed the ninth and final slot in the finals.
 
The 9-person 100 meter final is slated for 1:55 pm on Saturday, May 28. Follow the live results and video at www.GoUMary.com/coverage.
 
"In track, sometimes it about how hard you lean at the line," said Korbelik. "Tereza did just that and edged her way into the finals for the 100 meter hurdles. Tereza has had a great career for us and on her third chance at nationals she punched her ticket for the first time. What excites me the most is I know how much better she runs when she makes a final. The prelim is sometimes the hardest part; now she can go out there and compete for All-American honors. I am excited and confident in her to perform at a high-level tomorrow. You never know what's going to happen in the hurdles."
 
Two-time All-American Elizabeth Acheson wrapped up another impressive season in the 800 meter run. The junior placed 18^th overall in the field of 24 runners with a clocking of 2:11.99. She placed 5^th in the opening heat, just .12 seconds from third.
 
"Elizabeth Acheson fought hard in the 800m today," said Korbelik. "We didn't get the result we wanted but what a career she had at UMary. We are going to miss a lot of things about Liz; one of the main things was how great of a teammate she was. With multiple conference championships and All-American honors, you couldn't ask for a more humble person. Time went by too quick with Liz and we wish her the best in her bright future."
 
At the end of two days, the Marauders stand 7^th in the team standings with 13 points. In addition to Morris scoring in the triple jump, Samoya Neil placed 7^th and Morris 8^th in the long jump on Thursday to earn both Marauders All-American honors.
 
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