Shakeela Wells-Johnson (St. Paul, Minn.) has been nothing but spectacular in the opening weeks of her rookie campaign with the St. Catherine University track and field team. And with just two weeks to go until the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Indoor Championships, her performance at the University of Minnesota Parents' Day Open was a preview of what's to come for her at the conference meet as she set another school record Saturday. For her outstanding weekend, she has been named the Wildcat Athlete-of-the-Week.Â
In a field filled with top runners from area Division I, II and III schools, Wells-Johnson managed to set another school record – this time with her 11th-place finish in the 200-meter dash. Her finishing time of 26.51 is now the fastest in school history, surpassing Jamie Wenzel's time of 26.79 set in 2008. This new record time is also the fifth-fastest in the MIAC this season.Â
Wells-Johnson was also impressive in her two other events of the weekend. In the 60-meter dash, she ran a 7.94 in the prelims to become the only Division III runner to make the 'A' final at the meet. She then placed 10th overall with a time of 8.00. In the 60-meter hurdles, Wells-Johnson was just off her season-best mark with a 10th place time of 9.67.Â
So far this season, Wells-Johnson has claimed top-10 spots in the school record books in all three events, holds the top MIAC time in the 60-meter dash this season, ranks fifth in the 200-meter and is 12th in the 60-meter hurdles. She and the rest of the Wildcats return to action for a final prep at the Macalester College Pre-MIAC Meet Friday night at 5 p.m.Â
