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Shauna Smith and Jessica Fox Capture All-American Honors At 2003 NCAA Track and Field Championships
June 14, 2003
Laramie, Wyo. (June 12, 2003)-- Wyoming's brilliant 400 meter hurdler Shauna Smith and 400 meter dash expert Jessica Fox both captured 2003 All-American honors Friday night at Hornet Stadium in Sacramento, California. The sophomores raced their way into the UW record book by becoming the first ever Cowgirl sprinters to earn All-American status. Smith finished seventh in the finals of the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 52.70. Her accomplishment marks the first time in UW track and field history that a hurdler has earned All-American honors. The Sheridan, Wyo. native had a great run at the championships as she also bettered her school record in the 400 meter hurdles in Wednesday's first round of competition (57.31) and Thursday's semifinals (57.22). "Today I accomplished a goal I set for myself a long time ago," said Smith after the race. "If somebody would have told me five months ago that I would be an All-American I would not have believed it. I had a rough indoor season and to accomplish this is just great." Fox, a native of Burns, Wyo., placed fourth in her heat of the 400 meter dash semifinals. Her time of 52.66 placed her 11th overall and does not advance her into tomorrow's finals race. However, her finish is the eighth best time by an American and the top eight Americans earn All-America honors in each event by the United States Track Coaches Association. "I've got mixed emotions right now," said Fox. "I didn't run as well as I would have like to, but it is great to be called an All-American." "I am so proud of Shauna and Jessica," commented UW head track and field coach Don Yentes. "They raced extremely well at the highest level of college competition and earned every thing they got today. Our women's program has never had a All-American sprinter, but now we have two." Smith and Fox will be in action next weekend as they are scheduled to
compete at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Palo Alto,
Calif.
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