UTEP’s Morais & Simpson Earn All-America Recognition at Nationals Thursday Night

6/8/2023 10:34:00 PM

AUSTIN, Texas – UTEP's Arianne Morais and Marissa Simpson concluded the season with second team All-America honors at the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field National Championships hosted by Texas at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Thursday evening.

Morais's best mark was a 51.43-meter (168-8) toss on her first attempt as she placed 14^th overall. Morais improved from last year's showing in Eugene, Ore., as the junior transfer from Florida placed 22^nd (50.26m, 164-11). Morais is the first female UTEP javelin thrower since 2010 (Anna Wessman) to be honored as an All-American.

Roosa Yloenen's best throw was 47.90 meters (151-8) on her third and final attempt of her collegiate career in the javelin final. The senior competed in Eugene in 2021, finishing 18^th (50.28m, 164-11).

Nebraska's Rhema Otabor won the women's national championships with a 59.49-meter (195-2) laser on her second throw. Texas A&M's Lianna Davidson placed second with a 58.78m (192-10), while her teammate Katelyn Fairchild finished third with a 57.97 (190-2). Nebraska's Maddie Harris (57.26, 187-10) and Missouri's Skylar Ciccolini (56.03, 183-10) rounded out the top five finishers. Full javelin results here.

Marissa Simpson came up short, placing fifth in the women's 100-meter hurdles semifinals in heat 1, clocking in a 13.21 (+0.5) in lane three.

Simpson placed 16^th overall. The sophomore started solid off the block, but Arkansas's Ackera Nugent flew by the competition with a 12.55, while Coastal Carolina's Alexis Glasco (12.90) placed second to gain the automatic bid for Saturday's final. In heat 2, Kentucky's Masai Russell finished first with a 12.76 and UCF's Rayniah Jones placed second (12.91) to automatically advance to the finals. In the third semifinal, LSU's Alia Armstrong edged out Nugent for the top time, finishing with a 12.54 and Arizona's Talie Bonds was second in the third heat (third overall) with a 12.75. Florida's Grace Stark (12.76), Michigan's Aasia Laurencin (12.80) and North Carolina A&T's Paula Salmon (12.91) posted the next three top times to qualify for the championship race.

ON TAP FOR FRIDAY
Jakub Belik will look to leap high in the men's high jump final on Friday starting at 6:30 p.m. MT/7:30 CT. Victor Kibiego will compete for a national championship in the 3000m steeplechase final on Friday at 7:24 p.m. MT/ 8:24 CT.

MEET INFO | LIVE RESULTS | STREAM/TELEVISED [ESPN PLATFORMS]

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Fri., June 9 – M High Jump final – 6:30 p.m. MT/7:30 CT – Jakub Belik
Fri., June 9 – M 3000m Steeplechase final – 7:24 p.m. MT/8:24 CT – Kibiego

For complete coverage of UTEP Track & Field/Cross Country, be sure to follow the Miners on social media at @UTEPTrack (Twitter/Instagram/Facebook) or visit the official home of UTEP Athletics at UTEPMiners.com.

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