Victor Banjo Caps Indoor Season With All-America Honors

WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Senior sprinter Victor Banjo (Sugarland, Texas/Stephen F. Austin) earned his third career All-America award with a sixth-place finish in the 60-meter dash at the 2015 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Banjo recorded a time of 6.90, just .01 off the season-best time he posted in his preliminary round race the night before. He was part of a three-way tie for fifth place, which was broken by taking the times down to the third decimal place. The official figures showed Dustin Matak of Mount Union in fifth at 6.891, Banjo in sixth at 6.893 and Gavin Colley of Widener at 6.899.

The All-America finish is the third of Banjo's collegiate career. He took fourth in the 60-meter dash at the 2012 NCAA Division III Indoor Championship meet, and he added seventh place in the 100-meter dash at the 2012 NCAA Division III Outdoor Championships. After two injury-riddled seasons, which included an 11th-place finish in the 60-meter dash at the 2014 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships, Banjo was back on the podium, despite a slow start caused by some contact getting out of the starting blocks.

"I'm pleased with this finish," said Banjo, who has earned All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) awards in track and football at Wittenberg.

For Head Coach Craig Penney, Banjo's performance put the wraps on a tremendously positive weekend. Wittenberg put three student-athletes in the national meet, and two of them scored points while earning All-America honors. The Tigers finished with five points overall.

"This has been a great weekend, and the kids have had a lot of fun," Penney said. "We saw some great performances and one of the best finishes in school history. I feel like this is an example of the positive momentum we have as a university, as an athletics department, and as a track and field program."

Written By: Ryan Maurer