Thill to add depth for Waldorf in throwing events

By Matt Oliver

BELLE PLAINE – MacKinze Thill is set to go to work as a thrower, competing in the shot put and discus as a member of the Waldorf University women’s track and field team.

Thill, a Belle Plaine High School senior, signed a letter of intent with the Warriors last Thursday.

“MacKinze will be a great addition for us in the women’s throws and really give us some depth in the shot put and discus,” Waldorf coach Kelsey Riggins said.

A three-year varsity letter winner at Belle Plaine, Thill is currently in her final year of competition for the Plainsmen. She owns a personal-record of 86 feet, 7 inches in the discus. As a junior, Thill placed sixth in the shot put during the Class 1A state meet with a PR of 35 feet, 5.75 inches. She aims to conclude her senior season with a return trip to the state meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines.

Thill is the daughter of Lisa and Brian Urbanek.  She plans to study criminal justice and psychology at Waldorf. She decided to attend the university due to its academic offerings, the campus and the relationships she’s built with the track program’s coaching staff.

“I chose Waldorf because they have a great criminology program that was suited for me,” Thill said. “I also enjoyed the campus and liked the track coaches.”

The chance to compete at the collegiate level has Thill excited for the next chapter of her throwing career.

“It means that all of my hard work paid off,” Thill said. “I am very grateful to have the opportunity to participate at the collegiate level.”

Thill attends the same high school that Waldorf track and field standout Justin Jacobi graduated from. Jacobi, a freshman for the Warriors, hit a national-qualifying standard in the heptathlon during the North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) Indoor Championships in February and earned all-conference honors in the event. Coming from a strong Belle Plaine program, Thill is expected to bring the same work ethic when she arrives at Waldorf this fall.

“We are looking forward to having another athlete from the great state of Iowa on our team,” Riggins said. “MacKinze is a hard worker, and she will fit in well with the women in our current throws group.”