ASU Lady Hornets Have All America Performance at NCAA's

EUGENE, Oregon -- Alabama State had an exciting day at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships which concluded with the Lady Hornets 4x400m relay team receiving 2nd Team All-America status after their great run in the day's final event.

The 4x400m relay is always one of the most exciting and entertaining race of any track meet and that was never more a reality than the third and final heat of the relay. The Lady Hornets may not have won, but they gave the crowd which was announced as 10,015, a great race which saw them finish ahead of nationally ranked teams such as Stanford, Kansas State, Arizona State and host Oregon.

The Lady Hornets finished 14th with a time of 3:36.04, but it was their heat, the third, where they put in a great performance coming up just short of qualifying for Saturday's finals. The first eight teams are first team All-America teams where the second eight teams receive the 2nd Team honors.

Final Results

Alexis Ferebee started the relay for ASU and handed the baton off to Tatiana Etienne in second place. Etienne handed the baton off to Williams as ASU started the third leg in the middle of a bunched pack. Williams didn't stay there long as she ran a 52.50 lap, the fastest of the third legs, and had the Lady Hornets in the lead heading into the fourth and final leg.

Kimberly Wedderburn held off the competition until the final 100 meters when the group became bunched with the Lady Hornets finishing the heat fifth. It was another strong performance by the ASU Lady Hornets Track Team on the largest stage of collegiate track the Nationals and before an ESPN national audience.

Their 3:36.04 finish was the third fastest time in the history of the event and the second fastest time this season.

"We knew coming in with the 4x4 our backs were against the wall, but the ladies rose to the occasion," Head Coach Ritchie Beene said. "Having the lead going down with 150 meters to go was outstanding for Alabama State."

"We are pleased we are coming out of here as All-Americans and it is something good we can take back home. It came down to hard work and perseverance and that is what the staff and I have done and that is what the ladies have done and we were proud to be here representing Alabama State Hornet track and field."

Santina Williams ran earlier in the day with her appearance in the 400m run. She ran the race in 53.54 placing her 19th in the three-heat event. Her time was a little off from her qualifying time and school-record 52.56 she ran two weeks ago at the NCAA Preliminaries, but it was not only her third fastest career-time, but the third fastest in the history of the event at ASU.

COURTESY ALABAMA STATE UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION