Blazer Senior Makes Last Trip to Nationals

St. Cloud Times May 25, 2006

by Frank Rajkowski
frajkowski@st.cloudtimes.com

For College of St. Benedict senior Jenna Wendorff, this weekend marks her seventh and final appearance at a Division III national track and field meet.

The Fulda graduate competes in the shot put at 11 a.m. Saturday at this season's outdoor championships at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill.

Wendorff is seeded ninth with a throw of 45-feet, 21/2 inches. The top eight earn All-America honors, a status Wendorff has achieved three times, most recently at this season's Division III indoor meet. She was eighth.

She finished ninth at last season's Division III outdoor meet, just missing All-America distinction. Her highest finish at a national meet came at outdoor nationals during her sophomore season when she placed fifth.

"I don't think I'm putting any more pressure on myself because it's my last meet," said Wendorff, who majored in psychology and plans to attend graduate school at Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the fall. "It's a little sad because this is the last time I'm going to do this. But I'm excited."

Blazers coach Robin Balder-Lanoue said Wendorff's pre-meet seeding is likely to fuel her competitive fire.

"She's always been expected to do well, but I think the fact that she comes into this meet seeded ninth will just make her even more hungry to move up," Balder-Lanoue said.

Balder-Lanoue said Wendorff has left an impressive legacy. She recently was named co-athlete of the year at the Blazers' year-end banquet — sharing the honor with senior basketball All-American Anna Heikenen.

"Her competitive spirit has rubbed off on every member of our team," Balder-Lanoue said. "It goes beyond just the throwers. Her success has had an effect on everyone. Everybody has seen what she's accomplished and they want to try (to) qualify for nationals themselves."

Wendorff is not the first member of her family to have success at St. Benedict. Her older sister Laura, who played basketball from 1996-2000, is the leading scorer and rebounder in school history.

"There was never any pressure to match what (Laura) accomplished," Wendorff said. "There was just the pressure I put on myself. I'm a competitive person and I like to do well."

Doing well this weekend would mean becoming an All-American for the fourth time.

"It's going to be a great competition," Wendorff said. "The field is pretty open. If I throw well, I think I have a really good shot." Track and Field | NCAA Championship Site

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