Wildcat distance runner Kara Lubieniecki’s accomplishments have been many over the years – All-American accolades in both track and cross country, annual All-CCAA recognition, even multiple Academic All-American honors. The senior from Lakewood, Colo., is obviously not ready to rest on her laurels, posting an NCAA Automatic qualifying mark with a personal best effort in the 5,000-meter run during Friday’s Stanford Invitational. The latest edition of her “greatest hits” has landed Lubieniecki the Wildcat of the Week award.
Lubieniecki’s time of 16:33.45 in the 5k was good for a seventh place finish in a field full of Division I runners. It was also the fastest recorded in NCAA Division II this year and marked the third quickest 5,000-meter time in Chico State history. Lubieniecki already holds the school record for the fastest time in the 1,500-meter run (4:28.46).
With her impressive effort last Friday in Palo Alto, Lubieniecki has officially punched her ticket to Turlock to compete NCAA Championships in May – and based on her past performances, there’s no telling what she’ll accomplish in what will be her final meet in a Chico State uniform.
