Newman Headlines Five Track All-Americans
NEW ORLEANS – Alysha Newman was one of five members of the University of Miami track and field program to earn All-America honors for the 2014 indoor season.
Newman earned first team All-America honors, while Artie Burns, Lea Johnson, Amber Monroe and Shakima Wimbley were named second team All-America by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
USTFCCCA All-America honors for the 2014 indoor season are based on the performance at this past weekend’s NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
First-team honors were given to those who placed in the championships’ top eight in an event or were a member of an eight-person final. Second-team honors were earned by those who finished between ninth and 16th place. In addition, 14 men and four women earned honorable mention honors. USTFCCCA membership by a program is required to earn All-America awards.
Newman took home first team All-America honors after she finished tied for fifth in the women’s pole vault. The sophomore matched her indoor-best and school record height of 4.35m, scoring 3.5 points for Miami’s women.
“It feels great to score points for the team and to earn first team All-America for the first time,” Newman said. “My first goal was to score points for ‘The U’ and I’m so glad I was able to help the team with those points.”
Burns is Miami’s lone All-American from the men’s program. The freshman finished Heat 1 of the men’s 60m hurdles in 7.87 seconds, placing 15th overall.
Johnson just missed a chance at first-team All-America honors in the women’s weight throw. The junior, who won the 2014 ACC Indoor Championship in women’s weigh throw, finished 10th at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a mark of 20.25m.
Monroe, a junior, placed 15th in the women’s shot put with a throw of 15.78m at the NCAA Indoor Championships.
Wimbley battled a tough lane assignment in the semifinals of the women’s 200m, running out of Lane 3. The freshman placed 16th in her first NCAA Indoor Championships with a time of 23.92 seconds.
With the indoor season coming to a close, the Hurricanes will return to action Friday at the Hurricane Invitational. The two-day meet will be the first of three held at Miami’s Cobb Stadium during the 2014 outdoor season.
For all the latest information on the Miami Hurricanes, follow the official Twitter feed, @HurricaneSports, or “Like Us” on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/MiamiHurricanes. Follow @MiamiTrack on Twitter for specific news on UM track and field and cross country. For the most accurate and up to date information delivered to your phone, download the official Miami Hurricanes app for your Droid or iPhone.
