The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Track & Field earns 15 All-America certificates
03.12.2018 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Wasome highlights indoor season with NCAA crown
AUSTIN, Texas – With the conclusion of the indoor season over the weekend, the USTFCCCA has announced its 2018 All-America Teams and the Texas Longhorns earned 15 honors, including eight first-team recognitions.
The men's team got four first team honors from four different events, including one NCAA title. The women's team earned four first team honors, one for each member of the 4x400 meter relay squad that finished in eighth place.
Sophomore O'Brien Wasome provided the biggest highlight of the weekend winning the first men's triple jump crown in school history. He also broke the school record in grabbing his victory with a leap of 16.82 meters (55-2.25). Wasome earned first team status for the win and also was named to the second team for his 10th-place finish in the long jump.
Steffin McCarter finished in fifth place for the men in the long jump to earn first team honors in back-to-back years after taking third a year ago. This year, McCarter jumped farther than he did in 2017 showing the depth in the event this season.
Freshman Tripp Piperi took seventh place in the men's shot put to make the first team. The Big 12 champion posted a mark of 19.46m (63-10.25) to make the podium in his NCAA Championship debut.
Senior Alan Zapalac made his first appearance at an NCAA Championship and finished in eighth place in the men's weight throw. On the final throw of his indoor career he broke the school record with a toss of 22.15m (72-8.00).
The women's 4x400 relay team of Mariam Abdul-Rashid, Serenity Douglas, Zola Golden and Ariel Jones entered the meet ranked No. 16 in the field. The last team to qualify for the meet, the Longhorns banded together to run their fastest time of the season and make the podium in eighth place at 3:33.06.
Earning second team honors for the men was sophomore George Patrick in the heptathlon and freshman Sam Worley in the mile. Patrick finished in 14th place with a score of 5,398 points. Worley finished 15th after having to hurdle over a runner who fell in front of him during the race.
For the women, Rushelle Burton, Teahna Daniels, Kally Long and Pedrya Seymour received second team recognition. Daniels finished 10th in the 60 meters. Seymour was 10th in the 60m hurdles and Burton took 12th just behind her. Long finished in 13th place in the pole vault.
Receiving indoor first team honors for the first time in their careers was: Abdul-Rashid, Douglas, Piperi and Zapalac.
The USTFCCCA recognizes athletes who finish in the top eight at the NCAA Championships as members of the first team. Athletes finishing from 9th through 16th earn spots on the second team. The remaining athletes who participated are given honorable mention.
Texas will open its outdoor season this weekend at the UTSA Invitational. The Longhorns are expected to take a small group of mostly throwers to the meet.
Players Mentioned
