Florida Tech’s Freshmen Alexis Santiago and Rachel Tobin Awarded All-American Honors
By Florida Tech // May 28, 2015
first ever representatives from FIT to be named track All-Americans
BREVARD COUNTY • MELBOURNE, FLORIDA – On Tuesday, the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the student-athletes who earned All-America honors for the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season.
Included on the list of honorees are two Panthers, Alexis Santiago and Rachel Tobin.
The two freshmen become the first ever representatives from Florida Tech to be named track All-Americans.
To earn First Team USTFCCCA All-America honors, student-athletes must finish among the top eight competitors in their events, including as a member of a relay, at this past weekend’s NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Allendale, Michigan. Second team honors were bestowed to those participants who finished ninth through 12th in their respective events.
Rachel Tobin, a local product of Palm Bay, Florida garnered All-American honors in two events, the 100 meter and 200 meter dash.
At last week’s NCAA Championships, the freshman captured Second Team All-American after finishing 10th overall in the 100 meter dash with a school-record and personal-best run of 11.65.
She followed up her performance in the 100 with an even more impressive showing in the 200 meter dash.
Tobin ran a 24.03 in the prelims of the 200, good for fifth overall, to advance to the championship final.
In the final heat, the forensic psychology major finished with a school-record and personal-best time of 23.64 to take eighth overall in the event and collect First Team All-American honors.
A native of Naples, Florida, Alexis Santiago locked up Second Team All-American with her performance in the 100 meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships.
The freshman finished fourth overall in her heat with a run of 14.14, good for 10th overall in the preliminary round of the event.
Santiago missed the chance to challenge in the 100 meter hurdles final by one spot.
“Rachel and Alexis were determined from the very beginning of the year,” said head coach Pete Mazzone.
“What they achieved this season just validates what we always say, ‘hard work and belief are always key in determining the good from the great.’ We are all very proud of them both – well deserved.”
