Six Orange and Blue Earn All-America Distinctions

Women's Track & Field June 12, 2012

Six Orange and Blue Earn All-America Distinctions

June 12, 2012

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced the official list of 2012 USTFCCCA All-Americans on Tuesday, which included six distinctions for the Illinois women's track and field team. The Illini earned one first-team honors, one second-team nod and four honorable mention awards for their performances at the final site of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships held at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Under the USTFCCCA system, first-team All-America honors are awarded to those who earn any portion of a team point at the national championships, or reach an eight-entrant final. Second-team All-America honors are handed out to those whose final placing in the national meet range from ninth to 16th place. Those who participated at the final site but did not place in the meet's top 16 are listed as honorable mention for the All-America award.

Freshman Ashley Spencer earned her second career All-America award, collecting first-team honors for winning the NCAA title in the 400m. Sophomore Jesica Ejesieme became an All-American for the first time, picking up second-team honors after finishing 10th in the 400m hurdles. The 4x400m relay squad of senior Ashley Kelly, senior Ryisha Boyd, senior Latoya Griffith and Spencer along with Breeana Coleman (100m hurdles) rounded out the awards honorable mention selections.