FOUR LIONS GARNER USTFCCCA ALL-SOUTH CENTRAL REGION HONORS
2012 USTFCCCA All-Region Selections
COMMERCE, Texas – Four A&M-Commerce track and field athletes have been named to the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) South Central All-Region team, announced earlier this week. Isaac Chelimo, Khalil Henry and Fredrick Kipsang were selected on the men's side while Whitney Hargraves represented the Lion women's team.
Chelimo (pictured) earned the recognition in the 3,000 meter steeplechase where he posted a team-best time of 9:22.10 at the Bobby Lane Invitational at UT-Arlington. He also recorded the second and fourth-best steeplechase times on the season, running a 9:29.34 at the Michael Johnson Dr. Pepper Classic, placing second, and a 10:16.35 at the Lone Star Conference Championships, finishing 10 th.
Henry emerged as A&M-Commerce's best high jumper, provisionally qualifying for nationals with a season-best jump of 2.06 meters at the Lone Star Conference Championships, finishing first and earning All-Conference honors. Henry cleared 2.00 meters on four separate meets, including a 2.05 meter showing at the Michael Johnson Dr. Pepper Classic and a 2.01 meter leap at the Incarnate Word Last Chance Meet.
Kipsang earned All-Region honors in the 800 meter run where he led A&M-Commerce with a career-best time of 1:53.43 at the Mean Green Spring Invitational. He also ran the event at the Oklahoma Baptist Open, placing 14th with a 2:02.40 showing while also competing for the Lions in the 1,500 meter and 5,000 meter runs as well as the 3,000 meter steeplechase at the LSC Championships.
On the women's side, Hargraves added another accolade to her stellar resume as she earned All-Region honors in both the long and triple jumps. Hargraves placed second in both events at the Lone Star Conference Championships, posting a mark of 5.94 meters in the long jump and 12.13 meters in the triple jump, both of which were provisional qualifying marks. She will represent A&M-Commerce in the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships May 24-26 in Pueblo, Colo., competing in the long jump.
The accolades add to the successful season that the A&M-Commerce enjoyed in 2012 as the Lions had three athletes (Henry, Hargraves and Abigail Leaupepe-Tele) named All-Lone Star Conference while Alex Kimp and Hank Smith both garnered Academic All-Lone Star Conference honors.