By BRENT STUBBS

Chief Sports Editor

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SHE was more than pleased with how her collegiate career ended, but Denisha Cartwright is now more than eager about what is to come as she gets set to venture into the professional ranks as a track and field athlete.

Over the weekend, Cartwright capped off an historic stint at Minnesota State, winning two titles and getting second in another in her final appearance at the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships at the Welch Stadium at Emporia State in Emporia, Kansas.

Her performances gave her 16 career outdoor All-America trophies and her five career National titles as she closed out her tenure with the Mavericks track and field team with a combined indoor/outdoor 30 All-America honours and eight individual National Championships.

“It’s been a pretty good season and a great way to end my collegiate career,” Cartwright said. “I wasn’t expecting the time that I ran in the hurdles. I knew it was going to be fast, but I knew it would be fast enough to win.

“In the 100m, I really didn’t do what I wanted to do because I wanted to win the race, but I still managed to get a second. I had to come back in the 200m and make sure that I didn’t lose that race too.”

After beginning the final day of competition on the Mavericks’ 4x100 metre relay that made a mistake on their first exchange and finished in eighth place with a time of 51.89, Cartwright decided to bounce back to take care of business in her individual events.

In her signature event, which has also enabled her to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games this summer, Cartwright clinched her third straight 100 metre hurdles title with a wind-aided time of 12.37.

It was the second quickest time in all NCAA levels (Masai Russell, Kentucky, 12.36).

“One thing about the hurdles is that I know I’m going to get out. That’s not an issue for me,” Cartwright reflected. “Before I went out after the 4 x 1, the coach told me to relax and just get ready to run.”

Sophomore Alexis Brown of Lenoir-Rhyne spoiled Cartwright’s bid for the tri-factor as she finished just ahead of Cartwright in the 100 metres with a time of 10.96. It was Cartwright’s fourth straight 100 metre First Team All-America post. Her second place time was 11.14.

But in the grand finale to bring the curtain down on her season and her career at Minnesota State, Cartwright out-sprinted Sariyah Copeland (Fresno State) and Brown to win her first 200 metre national title in a lifetime best of 22.91.

After graduating on May 4 with her degree in Applied Health Science/Pre Health Administration, Cartwright said she couldn’t ask for a better way to close the door on her two-year stint at Minnesota after she transferred from Central State University. “Every year, I’ve been progressing,” said Cartwright, a former volleyball player. “I think this was an opportunity that I will never forget. I will cherish every moment, every event and every award that I would have achieved here.”

At the end of it all, Cartwright said she spent the night out with team-mates and friends as she indulged in an ice cream waffle cone.

“I’m grateful that God has brought me through this whole experience. That was the one who was guiding me this whole way,” Cartwright acknowledged. “He helped me to stay healthy, so I’m just grateful to God for everything he did for me.

“I also want to thank my coach Chris Parno for believing in me and trusting in me. My parents, Denise and Leslie “Russia” Cartwright, were there supporting me all through my career and I am very happy that they were there for me each step of the way.”

Having qualified as one of three Bahamians in the women’s 100m hurdles for the Olympics in Paris, France, July 27 to August 1, Cartwright said she’s looking forward to coming home for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ National Championships at the end of June and “running fast.

“I just want to keep it going the way it has been going this season,” she stated. “I just want to take some time off to give my body some rest and then I should be back in the swing of things and ready to go.”

Once the Olympics is done, Cartwright said her goal is to venture into the professional ranks.

“I’m looking forward to it because while I knew it would happen, I didn’t know I would be in this position to go into it,” she said.

“I’m happy that I am able to go pro because it’s going to be a different world out there. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m going to give it my best shot.”

As long as she stays “mentally focused,” the 24-year-old Cartwright said she should have no problem making the adjustment from the collegiate to the pro ranks.

She ended her career as outdoor All-American four times in the 100m, four times in the 100m hurdles with three titles, four times in the 200m with one title and four times in the 4 x 100m with one title.

Additionally, she left her legacy behind with indoor All-American honours four times in the 60m, four times in the 60m hurdles with three titles, four times in the 200m and twice in the 4 x 400m relay.