Updated 05-07-2019
Makiba Batten concluded her sixth season in 2018-19 as recruiting coordinator and assistant track coach in charge of the throwers at Wayne State University after being hired in December 2013.
Batten added additional duties in 2018-19 overseeing the long sprints group consisting of the 200m, 400m, 400m hurdles, 4x400m relay as well as the 800m.
She was selected to serve on the "Women in Coaching Panel," at the 2017 USTFCCCA (United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association) Convention.
In her six seasons (2014-19) with the Warriors track and field program, five throwers have scored at the conference indoor meet (four in the shot put and one in the weight throw) and 18 have garnered points (top eight) at the outdoor meet (nine in the javelin, four in the hammer, three in the shot put and two in the discus), including two conference champions in the javelin (Elizabeth Herriman in both 2016 and 2017).
Batten also mentored the first outdoor track All-American thrower in program history as Elizabeth Herriman placed 12th (Honorable Mention All-American) in the javelin at the 2015 NCAA National Championships. After being the first WSU thrower to qualify for the NCAA Championships (indoor or outdoor) in 2015, Herriman qualified again in 2016 and placed 14th in the javelin. She qualified again for the national championships as a senior in 2017 and finished 16th.
Her throwers have also been strong in the classroom as senior Erika Perry was a USTFCCCA All-Academic Scholar Athlete recipient in both 2015 and 2016, while Lauren Bohn earned the same honor in 2017.
Two of her students (Grace Mendoza and Dallas Porter) were named to both the 2017 GLIAC Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field All-Academic Excellence Teams, while Bohn and the Herriman twins (Elizabeth and Gabrielle) were All-Academic honorees in 2017 for both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
Two of her students (Bohn and Porter) were named to the 2016 GLIAC Outdoor Track and Field All-Academic Excellence Team, while Perry, Sloane Brunner, Elizabeth Herriman and Gabrielle Herriman each earned a spot on the GLIAC All-Academic Team.
Perry, Bohn and Porter received GLIAC All-Academic Excellence recognition for the 2016 indoor season, with Brunner being named to the GLIAC All-Academic Team. For the 2015 outdoor season, Perry was a GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree with Brunner receiving an All-Academic Team selection. Perry was an Academic All-GLIAC Excellence recipient for the 2015 Indoor season, with Brunner and Dreana Williams earning GLIAC All-Academic recognition. Perry was a GLIAC All-Academic Excellence selection for both the indoor and outdoor seasons in 2014.
Both Herriman's received USTFCCCA All-Midwest Region accolades in 2016 for their performance in the javelin, while Elizabeth also received an All-Region selection for the javelin in 2015.
In December 2014, Elizabeth Herriman was selected as the GLIAC Track and Field Athlete of the Week for her performance at the Indianapolis Friday Night Special meet.
Batten joined the Warrior staff after serving as an assistant cross country and track coach at Marygrove College during the Fall of 2013 with her main focus on improving the Mustangs' strength & conditioning programs.
She spent four seasons at Saginaw Valley State University where her responsibilities included assisting in program management and athletic facility projects, coordinating team travel, managing uniform and equipment contracts and purchase, and meet management as well as serving as the liaison to compliance director for student-athletes academic progress.
Batten assisted with the multis and pole vault, while having oversight of the throwing events in addition to serving as the strength and conditioning coach for track and field teams and the cross country squads.
During her tenure at SVSU, Cardinal student-athletes in cross country and track and field earned 126 National Scholar-Athlete accolades, while a total of 208 received GLIAC All-Academic and All-Academic Excellence honors. The women's cross country squad twice qualified for nationals (2011 and 2012). The track and field teams (both indoor and outdoor combined) earned 18 All-American certificates, while two women's cross country runners earned All-American selection.
As her main coaching duties were with the throwers, Batten tutored national qualifiers for the 2012 NCAA outdoor championship as well as both the 2013 indoor and 2013 outdoor national championships. She also mentored a 2013 conference outdoor record holder (men's decathlon).
Batten trained athletes from the Detroit Metro Area through her business Xploszun Training, a business she developed on her own while employed at Velocity Sports Performance that focuses on the development and sharpening of specific athletic skills.
While at Velocity, Batten was one of the most highly requested coaches and had the opportunity to coach athletes that participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics. In early 2009, Batten left Velocity to focus more on the development of Xploszun, while also working as the assistant coach for the cross country and track & field teams at Lahser High School. There, Batten worked along side head coach Nick Stration to help develop strength and conditioning programs for both teams.
During the 2005-06 seasons, Batten was a graduate assistant track coach at Chadron State College where she coached for two seasons. In this time she coached her athletes to the NCAA National meet and turned out nine All-American honors in the throwing events. While performing these duties, Batten earned her Master’s of Science in Sports Management from CSC.
Batten earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Florida State University, where she also was a member of the track and field team. She earned several accolades while at FSU including All-ACC Indoor/Outdoor Champion of the shot put, NCAA D-I Outdoor Discus All-American and was a qualifier for USA Nationals as well as the 2004 Olympic Trials.
In 2000 as a sophomore, she accumulated All-ACC honors for both the indoor and outdoor seasons and was named an NCAA All-American in the discus. Batten won the conference individual championship for the shot put in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, helping the women’s squad to its first ever ACC Team Championship.
A graduate of Detroit Renaissance High School, Batten was All-state, all-region and all-city through all four years at RHS. She participated in volleyball and basketball in addition to track and field. Batten was an honor roll student who was involved in numerous high school activities.
