Harris Is Indoor Track All-American

March 8, 2002

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (www.hurricanesports.com) – Junior Gina Harris (Philadelphia, PA) earned All-America honors in the long jump and freshman Lauryn Williams (Rochester, PA) advanced to Saturday’s final in the 60-meter dash in the first day of competition for the University of Miami women’s track and field team at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Tyson Track Center on the campus of the University of Arkansas.

Harris placed tenth in the long jump with a leap of 20 feet, 1 ˝ inches (6.13 meters) to earn indoor All-America honors for the first time, becoming the 16th NCAA Women’s Indoor All-American in Miami history. Harris, who placed second at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships, became UM’s first indoor long jump All-American since Tiffani Davis in 1995.

Williams was the sixth-fastest qualifier to Saturday night’s 60-meter dash final with a time of 7.32 while placing third in her preliminary heat behind LSU’s Muna Lee, the fastest qualifier to the final in 7.24. The performance was a new school record for Williams, who earned BIG EAST Conference Outstanding Performer earlier this season by winning the 60- and 200-meter dashes at the BIG EAST Indoor Championships. She also competed in the 200 on Friday, running a time of 23.91 in the preliminaries but failing to advance to the final.

“All things considered, I thought Lauryn did a heck of a job for a freshman in her first NCAA meet,” said head coach Amy Deem. “She set a school record in the 60 and has a chance to become an All-American honors tomorrow. Gina was solid and it’s great to see a lot of hard work pay off for her with an All-America citation.”

Events continue Saturday with senior Kareen Clarke, a three-time All-American, competing in the triple jump and Williams running in the finals of the 60-meter dash.