Natalie Block set a UWM record in the 400-meter hurdles Thursday at the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., but fell just short of reaching the event finals.
Still, her performance earned her second-team All-American honors, and her 12th place finish at nationals was the best in UWM history. Nine hurdlers advanced to the finals on Saturday. She became UWM’s first All-American since moving up to Division I in 1990.
“When athletes get to this level, especially when they have been here before, there are and should be high goals. Natalie has always set the bar high for herself, so missing out on finals was a little hard on her,” head coach Andrew Basler said. “Yet, there is still the gratitude and a sense of accomplishment coming into these championships ranked 21st and finishing 12th in the country for second team All-American honors. Add to the mix the disappointing injury at last year’s championships, she should be extremely proud of her efforts today.”
Block won the Horizon League titles in the 100- and 400-meter hurdles, and is the UWM record-holder in both events. She will also compete in the USA Championships July 31-Aug. 3 in Eugene, Ore.
Last year, Block made it to the semifinals of the 100-meter hurdles in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials but fell short of making the squad bound for the Summer Games in Paris. She was contending with an injury that prevented her from competing the 400-meter hurdles and hampered her performance in the 100-meter event.
