March 10, 2001

Fayetteville, AR – University of Miami seniors Kareen Clarke (Lithonic, GA) and Natalie Watson (Coral Springs) along with sophomore Patricia Pearson (Jacksonville, FL) earned All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, AR.

Clarke, who earned All-America honors in the triple jump at last season’s NCAA Championships, finished seventh with a leap of 12.99 meters. Clarke entered the NCAA Championships ranked eighth in the nation in the triple jump.

Watson, the second-ranked 800-meter runner in the nation, earned All-America honors for the second consecutive season finishing fourth in the 800-meter final with a time of 2:08.95.

Pearson, who entered the NCAA Championships ranked No. 1 in the nation in the 800-meters, struggled this weekend with a leg injury and finished fifth (2:09.51). The All-America honor is the first of her career.

Clarke and Watson become the first Hurricanes since Gillian Russell (55-meter hurdles) in 1992 and 1993 to earn All-America honors in consecutive NCAA Indoor Championships.

The Hurricanes have now had at least one student-athlete earn All-America honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships in seven consecutive seasons. Overall, Miami has recorded 15 indoor All-Americans since 1992.