FEATURE: Stuart Achieves a Dream at National Championships

By Sandy Gholston

Ferris senior runner Mikinzie Stuart has had a strong winter track and field indoor season that ended with her earning All-American honors (Photo/Sandy Gholston)

BIG RAPIDS – If Mikinzie Stuart was looking to end her final indoor track and field season with a bang then she could hardly have written a better script.

The senior Ferris distance runner Mikinzie Stuart placed seventh to earn All-American accolades as she timed in at 4:58.59 in the mile (the top eight finishers are named All-Americans). The senior native of Saginaw had high hopes for collecting some hardware during her trip to Texas for the indoor national championships. Those dreams turned into reality as she turned her dreams into reality in Houston.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my last season of indoor track,” said Stuart, who previously earned All-American honors in 2006 as a member of the distance medley team. “Breaking five minutes in the mile has been a dream of mine for the past six years. It was nice to be able to finally make that dream a reality.

Stuart realized she could not rely on the old fall back: There’s always next year. For her, as a senior, there is no next year for indoor track and field. That was part of the reason it was all the more special not only to earn All-American honors, but to do it while achieving another personal goal.

“As a senior, achieving my dream of breaking 5 minutes in the mile and being on the ticket for nationals is a great way to end my running career,” said Stuart, who cherishes this individual All-American honor in her final indoor try.

For more on Stuart earning All-American honors for indoor track and field season, visit:
http://www.ferris.edu/sports/track/0809news/allamericans09.htm

If you have any questions, ideas or comments feel free to contact Sandy Gholston at sgholston2@netzero.com