All-America honors for five former R.I. All-State tracksters

Five former Rhode Island All-Staters - Erin Neville and Lauren Cardarelli, both of La Salle, Hope's Laurenmaria Smith and Jusme twins Didi and Mickey, of Classical - captured All-America honors at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship, held last weekend at Marietta College's Drumm Stadium in Marietta, Ohio.

Here's more on their performances from the Wheaton College Athletics Web site:

Wheaton's best showing came in the 4×400-meter relay, as the Lyons took third in a season-best time of 3:48.27, edging fourth-place Washington University in Saint Louis by 0.01 seconds. Seniors Chizoba Ezeigwe (Brockton, MA/Thayer Academy) and Natana Jules (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls), junior Renee Thompson (Hartford, CT/Weaver) and freshman Lauren Cardardelli (Cranston, RI/La Salle Academy) ran legs, as the three upperclassmen each earned an All-America finish in the event for the third straight season. Between indoor and outdoor competition, Jules nabbed her fourth career All-America nod, while Cardarelli collected her first.

The Lyons had another foursome attain All-America status, with the 4×100M relay quartet taking seventh in 47.47. Ezeigwe and Thompson were joined by sophomore Laurenmaria Smith (Providence, RI/Hope) and freshman Didine Jusme (Providence, RI/Classical). Ezeigwe completed her career with nine All-America accolades, Thompson boosted her resume to include six, while Jusme and Smith each earned their first.

At her first outdoor national championship, freshman Mickey Jusme (Providence, RI/Classical) took seventh during the triple jump with a leap of 38′ 10 1/4″, placing second among freshmen. She also corralled All-America honors in the event at the NCAA's indoor meet. Sophomore Erin Neville (North Providence, RI/La Salle Academy) tied for seventh in the high jump at 5′ 4 1/2″, notching her third career All-America finish, and the first outdoors.

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)