Florida Tech’s Rachel Tobin Finishes Eighth At NCAA Championships

By  //  May 24, 2015

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Florida Tech’s Rachel Tobin once again made history on Saturday at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships. (FIT Image)

BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – Florida Tech’s Rachel Tobin once again made history on Saturday at the NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships.

All of the effort she put in during the season came down to the freshman’s final race of the season, the national championship in the 200 meter dash at the Grand Valley State University Track & Field Complex.

Starting from the third lane, the Palm Bay, Florida native sped down the track for a time of 23.64, good for eight overall in the final. Her impressive performance set a new school record in the event and was a new personal best.

Rachel Tobin
Rachel Tobin

“Going into the race, I felt really good,” stated Tobin.

“I tried to just focus on positive things and the workouts that I have been doing. I kind of knew a PR was coming because that’s how my coach had projected it would be. During the race, it definitely was not easy.”

“I always analyze the 200 and I was like ‘man all of these girls are in front of me.’ Then I looked and realized I still had a chance so I kicked it up a bit. Once it was all said and done, I continued to watch the scoreboard, and I saw the 23.64. I was extremely happy because I did not think I would drop my time that much,” said Tobin.

Quanera Hayes of Livingstone took the gold medal in the 200 meter final with her time of 22.81.

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As a result of finishing in the top eight of the final, Tobin was named an All-American. She is the first track & field All-American in program history.

Pete Mazzone
Pete Mazzone

“We are so proud of Rachel earning a spot on the podium and becoming the first track All-American at Florida Tech,” said head coach Pete Mazzone.

“Coach (Nick) Dodson has done a great job with Rachel and the others all year. You got to give him a lot of credit for what he’s done with those two (Rachel and Alexis Santiago).”

“They are just freshmen and he brought them along and they did a great job this season. They believe in everything he does and buy into his program, and it shows in them making it to nationals and one reaching the podium on the final day.”

With three more years of eligibility left for Tobin, she sees herself having future opportunities to reach the podium and win a national championship.

“I’m really excited to get the title of an All-American,” Tobin commented. “I know that by getting here, the chances are high that I will continue coming back. I’m just a freshman, this isn’t the last time I will be here.”