SIUE junior La’Derrick Ward made history Friday, March 14 by placing sixth in the men’s long jump at NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field National Championships in Albuquerque, N.M. He became the first two-time D-I All-American in school history.
The Alorton native took sixth in the long jump with a mark of 25 feet, 5.25 inches. The mark was a school record for Ward, who broke his previous record of 25-3.5. He finished 10 spots higher than he was projected, having entered the event seeded 16th.
He also earned All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor National Championships last spring.
Junior Jatavia Wright competed in the women’s triple jump at NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field National Championships Saturday, March 15, becoming the first SIUE female student-athlete to compete at the meet.
Wright placed 11th in the event with a mark of 41 feet, 7 inches. The Miami Gardens, Fla., native was just shy of her school record of 41-8 and finished three places higher than her incoming rank of 14th.
Wright earned second team All-America status in her first appearance at the NCAA National Championships.
Photo (Upper Right): La’Derrick Ward (2nd from right in black jacket).
Photo (Middle Right): Jatavia Wright competes in the triple jump.