University of Connecticut Athletics
Four Athletes To Represent UConn at Nationals
6/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
STORRS, Conn. (June 3, 2008) - Four University of Connecticut women's track and field athletes, the largest group in program history to represent the Huskies at nationals, will travel to Drake University to participate in the 2008 NCAA Championship on June 11-14.
Freshman Trisha-Ann Hawthorne (Elmsford, N.Y.) and sophomore Tynisha McMillian (Bridgeport, Conn.) both automatically qualified for the NCAA Championship with dominate performances at the 2008 East Regional NCAA Championship in their respective events.
McMillian took fifth in the shot put with a new outdoor school record throw of 15.58 meters (51-01.50) as Hawthorne automatically qualified in the 200 meter dash with a fifth place finishing time of 23.64.
Two more Huskies will join their teammates at Drake, as captain Tamara Highsmith (East Haven, Conn.) and sophomore Carin Knight (New Rochelle, N.Y.) will be heading into their fourth and third nationals, respectively. Both were named All-Americans during the 2008 Indoor NCAA Championship.
Hawthorne will lead the way for the Huskies as she will compete in two track events as just a freshman for the UConn program. She will participate in both the 100 meter dash and 200 meter dash, while Highsmith will compete in the triple jump, an event where she earned her indoor All-America status. Knight will show her skills in the high jump as classmate, McMillian, will compete in the shot put.
As a group, these four individuals have recorded stellar careers as they have combined for 21 individual championships during the New England, BIG EAST, ECAC and Regional Championships.
"I am very pleased with the addition of our two All-Americans in Tamara and Carin," said head coach Bill Morgan. "The largest group to qualify is a significant to the path our team is committed to. The fact that all four were previously named to the All-East Regional Team (placing in the top eight finishers of each respective event) signifies yet another benchmark for our fine group of female student-athletes."
The Huskies will travel to Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, June 9 and to Drake Stadium to prepare for the Wednesday through Saturday competition.
"With the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. in late June, the NCAA Championship becomes an incredible opportunity to perform at the highest collegiate level," added Morgan. "This is really the final step that every athlete works toward."
