USTFCCCA All-Region Honorees Announced for 2012 NCAA Division I Cross country Two Jamaicans receive honours:
Noel C. Spencer: Chester, NY – The U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recognized 450 athletes that earned All-Region awards for cross country in Division I following this weekend’s NCAA Regional Championships. Athletes of member schools that finished in the top 25 individually at one of the nine regional sites earned the honor.
Two Jamaicans for the 1st time:
Among the 450 athletes earning All-Region honors are two athletes that represented Jamaica, WI at International meets. Arkansas sensation –Kemoy Campbell received the honour for the first time and Columbia University standout Leighton Spencer is receiving his second honour in as many years.
Kemoy set a blistering pace at the south Central Regional placing third in a star studded field with a time of 29 minutes 43 seconds a personal best. Arkansas placed second. Campbell is the Jamaica junior National Record holder for the 1500m and 5000m. He is a junior at Arkansas. Campbell is in his first season at Arkansas and we expect to see astonishing accomplishments in the future. Campbell said. “ I think the guys did a great job of executing the plan. This was my first 10K and I fell like I ran well.”
Historic Moment for Columbia and Spencer:
Spencer competed in a windy 38 degree weather running 25 meters from the shore of the Atlantic Ocean – less than 48 hours after a blistering Northeasterner whipped the east coast including New York and Connecticut where the meet was held. The course had remains of rain and icy puddles throughout the 10K. Spencer set a personal best time of 30 minutes 36 seconds, improving on his time by 52 seconds or from 31:28.4 set last year November. This contingent of Columbia runners created history for the school by been the first squad to receive an automatic bid to the championship. Last year was the first appearance ever for Columbia as a wild card.
During the XC 12 season, Arkansas and Columbia have been stiff competitors. At the Adidas Wisconsin Invite both teams tied for 5th place at the end of the race. The USTFCCCA ranked each team consecutively 9th and 10th nationally the following week.
On Saturday, November 17th, both athletes will be at the start line for the NCAA div 1 CC National Championships. Both squads are looking for bragging rights