The accolades keep on coming in for Bahamian collegiate sprinter Denisha Cartwright. She was awarded the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II (DII) Women’s Track Athlete of the Year for the Central Region Award for indoor competition.
Cartwright, who is a redshirt sophomore for the Minnesota State University at Mankato Mavericks, finished her stellar season by ranking in the top-5 in the nation in three different individual events – the 60 meters (m) hurdles (number one, 8.41 seconds), 200m (number three, 24.10 seconds) and 60m (number four, 7.52 seconds) – all personal bests. Her time in the 60m hurdles was one of her biggest accomplishments this past indoor season.
A focused Cartwright said she was surprised to win those awards. She said she was just focused on getting better throughout the season.
“Winning those awards meant a lot to me,” Cartwright said. “I wasn’t really expecting them if I’m being honest. My mind was so focused on every meet and just improving my performance each time but the best award I like is the athlete of year because I know that I was picked from probably other coaches and different people who decided I should get it so I’m thrilled to have this award.”
In addition to this award, Cartwright was also able to walk away with the Northern Sun Intercollegiate (NSIC) Track Athlete of the Year and Newcomer of the Year awards away after scoring 28 points at the NSIC Indoor Championships in February. She was also named NSIC Track Athlete of the Week twice this past season in addition to being named USTFCCCA Track Athlete of the Week.
To achieve those times this season, Cartwright credits hard work, consistent training and practice.
“I was able to clock those times from all the hard work we put into practicing daily and hitting the gym even though I’m not quite as strong as I need to be. I’m still progressing and trusting the process with my coach workouts and our lifting routine,” Cartwright said.
She made the final for all three of her individual races as well as for the 4x400m relay, with her teammates, at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. Cartwright said she was not happy with her times and placement at that meet but looks forward to her remaining years of collegiate eligibility.
“At the indoor nationals I wasn’t that happy at all because I knew I could have done way better,” Cartwright said. “Those times I ran wasn’t my best at all and I felt terrible because I did better in other meets and I didn’t get what I was expecting at nationals but my peers and old teammates told me that I should be happy that I made finals for all my events and still did my best. They said even though it was my first time ever competing there, it is an experience and I have still have more years to go.”
At the meet which was held at the Birmingham CrossPlex in Birmingham, Alabama, Cartwright won the silver medal in the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.50 seconds. She finished sixth overall in the 60m dash after clocking 7.57 seconds. In the 200m, the speedster clocked 24.67 seconds to finish seventh. In the 4x400m relay, the Bahamian and her teammates powered their way to a bronze medal finish with a time of 3:47.45. The Mavericks finished second overall at the meet.
On the season, the former Temple Christian Schools star runner ran six finals in the 60m hurdles and managed to finish first place in all but one of those races.
The indoor season is over and Cartwright outdoor season is underway. She was not one of the Mavericks to participate in the Great River Rust Buster meet last weekend, but she will get a chance to get her outdoor season started at her school’s meet, the Maverick Spring Invitational, this Saturday.
“In the outdoor season I am looking to improve myself from what I did at indoor nationals. I’m looking to be stronger and execute like I never did before. I’m looking forward to being national champ in all my events,” Cartwright said.
In college, she is coached by Mavericks Assistant Coach Chris Parno who is responsible for sprints and hurdles at the school. The head athletics coach is Mike Turgeon. Locally, Cartwright is coached by Ednol Rolle, the head athletics coach of the University of The Bahamas.
The post Cartwright earns DII indoor regional award appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/cartwright-earns-dii-indoor-regional-award/
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