ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Linfield University junior Kira Hawaaboo earned All-America honors for the second time in her career on Friday, placing fourth in the women's long jump at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships at Golisano Training Center on the campus of Nazareth University.
 
Hawaaboo's top effort of 19 feet, 2½ inches came on her third attempt and fell fewer than two inches shy of surpassing her own school record of 19 4¼.
 
"Kira was outstanding today," praised Wildcats coach Travis Olson afterward. "She was focused, ready to compete and it showed. I am very proud of her and excited for the outdoor season."
 
Competing in a field of 20 challengers, Emma Seipel of Loras (Iowa) repeated as the Division III indoor champion, though Seipel's best mark of 19-8¼ fell well short of her personal best of 20-0½.
 
Aurielle Brunner from Chatham (Penn.) was runner-up with a mark of 19-7, Megan Hunt of Wisconsin-Oshkosh was third, equaling her best effort of 19-5¼.
 
Competing in just her second season of track and field, including high school, Hawaaboo earned her second All-All-America citation from the USTFCCCA. As a wide-eyed rookie last spring, she placed sixth in the long jump at the Division III Outdoor Championships in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
 
AHEAD
While Hawaaboo and Olson return to Oregon, the remainder of Linfield's track and field team will be competing Saturday at the Lane Open in Eugene.