CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The NCAA Division II National Championships drew to a close on Saturday afternoon, with the Fresno Pacific track and field teams garnering All-American honors in three events. Andrew Morin (pole vault), Brie Courseault (200m, 400m), and Cathrin Wicke (400h) each competed in the finals of their respective events, and each has already helped set the tone for the 2019 season. 
 
"Andrew, Brie, and Cathrin were all impressive competitors today," head coach Ray Winter said. "They were fully committed to the mission, which was to leave their very best performance on the track and know they gave it their very best physical and mental effort. They definitely did that."
 
The reigning PacWest Conference Pole Vault Champion, Morin opened the final day for the Sunbirds, clearing the 16-0 mark on his final attempt of his first jump. The junior was unable to clear the 16-4 mark in three attempts, however, settling for a tie for 14th place. 
 
"Andrew has made such a rapid improvement as a vaulter that it is hard to even define his amazing progress and trajectory into the future. He will certainly be served by this experience on the big stage as he seeks to go to new heights next year," Winter said. "He was the best vaulter in the West Region this year, and his goal for 2019 has already been set — to be the best in the nation."
 
Wicke, a freshman, gave the Sunbirds their second All-American selection of the day after finishing 6th in the 400-hurdles, and her time of 1:00.27 places her second on FPU's all-time list. 
 
"Cathrin ran perhaps her best technical race of the season today, and it carried her to the highest finish of any Sunbird this year. She's been so solid all year, and she proved to be undeniable on the national stage, as well," Winter said. "She matched the highest finish ever at an NCAA nationals for any FPU track and field athlete. She was a wonderful ambassador of our program and university all week."
 
In her first event of the day, Courseault completed the 400-meter finals with a time of 54.79. The sophomore finished in 7th place, earning All-American honors in the process. 
 
A day after breaking her own program record in the 200-meter, Courseault wrapped up the day with a 24.26 in the finals, good enough for 8th place and FPU's third All-American honor of the day. With her performances this week, she now claims three of the top five 200-meter times in Sunbird history.  
 
"Brie was a very busy young lady in three events this week, and she showed tremendous maturity and physical toughness. She is the first athlete in our program to ever be a double All-American at one track meet, or to receive such a distinction in a career, yet she is just a sophomore and her future looks bright," Winter said. "She will return as the core of our very young and strong sprints crew as we elevate collectively to the next level as a program. She truly is the embodiment of what a Sunbird student-athlete strives to be."