By: by Emily Diekelmann
MACON,Ga.- After blazing to a first place victory and setting a new personal record in the 5,000 meters this weekend, Mackenzie Howe was awarded Atlantic Sun Women’s Track Athlete of the Week, the conference announced Wednesday. Nabbing her third A-Sun award for track, Howe can now add this to her already stellar senior season.
“Mackenzie is having a break out year being the conference champion in cross country and now coming out strong in her first 5k at an indoor meet,” head track and field coach Andy Eggerth said. “With her time being just a couple seconds off the school record, she should break the school record easily. She is having a great season and we are just anticipating greater things to come.”
Competing in her first indoor meet of the season, Howe made her presence known in the 5,000-meter race. Her time of 17:15.82 not only set a personal record for herself but also blew away the second place competitor by 38 seconds. Howe narrowly missed breaking the school record of 17:12.83 set by Patrina Hayes in 2006. Howe is currently the outdoor track school record holder in the 5,000 meters. For Howe, this is only the beginning for what she wants to do this season.
“It feels great to be back into training and racing again especially since this is my senior season,” Howe said. “Everything from here on out is going to be all or nothing for me. I am working hard on the track towards qualifying for indoor Nationals. That is my ultimate goal but getting these awards along the way is awesome too and keeps me motivated.”
