NCAA Division II Women's Shot Put Final Results

            Sara Wells of Wayne State College became the first-ever indoor national champion in track and field for the Wildcats Saturday by winning the shot put at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships held in Birmingham, Alabama.  Wells was one of three Wildcats competing in the event, joining sophomore Michaela Dendinger and freshman Shandan Platt.
    Wells, a senior from Albion (Boone Central HS), almost never made the finals as she scratched on her first two throws in prelims before recording a mark of 53' 1", which at the time was a new school record and the top throw in the prelims.
    After recording a mark of 48' 5 1/4" on the first throw in finals, Wells unleashed a throw of 54' 2 3/4" and 54' 1" on her remaining throws to clinch first place honors.  She won the event by 2 feet, 11 inches over runner-up Jamie Sindelar of Ashland.
    Wells is the second-ever athlete at Wayne State College to win a national title, joining Katie Wilson in 2008 (outdoor shot put).
    This marks the third straight year that Wells captured All-American honors during the indoor season in the shot put.  She placed sixth in both 2013 and 2014 indoor seasons.
    Two other Wildcats also competed in the shot put Saturday as Ainsworth freshman Shandan Platt just missed finals by one spot, placing 10th with a top mark of 46' 2 1/2".  She entered nationals ranked 14th in NCAA Division II with a season-best throw of 47' 3 1/2".  
    Hartington sophomore Michaela Dendinger did not record a mark after recording fouls on all three throws.  She entered nationals ranked fourth in NCAA Division II with a season-best mark of 52' 2 3/4".