Thursday, January 14, 2010
Prerace Jitters |
| Destinee Hooker to forgo final year of track and field eligibility Posted: 13 Jan 2010 08:06 PM PST Press Release Courtesy: University of Texas Athletics Four-time National Champion will play professional volleyball. AUSTIN, Texas – University of Texas All-American high jumper Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas) has elected to forgo her final season of track and field eligibility to pursue a professional volleyball career. Hooker, a two-sport All-American on the Forty Acres, leaves Texas as one of the most decorated athletes in Longhorn history. On the track, Hooker claimed four individual national titles, six All-America honors and six individual Big 12 titles. She also set school and NCAA records in the indoor high jump (6-6, 1.98m) and tied the UT outdoor high jump record (6-4.75/1.95m). "We're very happy for Destinee and wish her all the best in her career," University of Texas Women's Track and Field head coach Beverly Kearney said. "We're going to miss her, not only for the points she scored, but for the leadership and maturity she brought to the team. We're so happy for her and all the great performances she has had at Texas, but this is so much more for her." Hooker, the 2008-09 Big 12 Female Athlete of the Year, also led the Texas Volleyball team to back-to-back NCAA Championship Semifinals appearances, including a trip to this year's NCAA Championship match against Penn State. On the court, Hooker was a three-time AVCA All-American, four-time All-Big 12 First Team selection, the 2009 Big 12 Player of the Year and two-time Honda Award finalist. "We are very excited for Destinee," University of Texas Volleyball head coach Jerritt Elliott said. "She had a tremendous four years here, learning the game and growing as a player. Now she is able to take the next step in an incredible volleyball community. I know she will continue to improve and I'm excited about the possibility of her competing for a U.S. roster spot for the 2012 Olympics."  Related posts:
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| Posted: 13 Jan 2010 01:20 PM PST Press Release Courtesy USA Track & Field INDIANAPOLIS - The Aramco Houston Half Marathon has been a key stop on the road to success for a number of U.S. distance running stars over the last six years and 2010 is sure to see its share of breakout performances as the event hosts the USA Half Marathon Championships this Sunday. Running her first half marathon, Olympic Bronze medalist Shalane Flanagan (Pittsboro, N.C.) headlines the women’s field. Also making his debut for the distance will be 2009 USA 15 km runner-up Tim Nelson (Portland, Ore.), who is among the favorites for the men’s title. While Houston is the home of the men’s American record for the half marathon, race organizers are hopeful that Flanagan can add the women’s record to the event’s history books. Set to push Flanagan will be defending champion Magdalena Lewy Boulet (Oakland, Calif.) as they face a field that includes Serena Burla (Ellisville, Mo.), the third fastest U.S. woman at the half marathon in 2009. Other contenders include 2009 runner-up Kelly Jaske (Portland, Ore.), 2009 Team USA World Half Marathon squad members Heidi Westover (Walpole, N.H.), Amy Hastings (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and 2009 USA 20 km champion Colleen De Reuck (Boulder, Colo.). The men’s race could prove to be the most heated of the day with several men capable of taking the title. Joining Nelson among the favorites will be 2008 champion James Carney (Boulder, Colo.), 2006 NCAA Division I Cross Country Champion Josh Rohatinsky (Portland, Ore.), and Team USA Minnesota teammates Josh Moen (Saint Louis Park, Minn.) and Patrick Smyth (Minneapolis, Minn.) who finished second and third respectively at the 2009 USA Men’s 10 Mile Championship. About the USARC The Aramco Houston Half Marathon is the first stop on the 2010 USA Running Circuit (USARC), and features a total championship prize purse of $59,500 plus potential bonuses. The men’s and women’s champions will each earn $12,000. The 2010 USARC is a USA Track & Field road series, featuring USA Championships from one mile to the marathon and attracts the best U.S. distance runners, including Olympians Deena Kastor, Ryan Hall, Shalane Flanagan and Anthony Famiglietti. The 2010 USARC has ten events each for men and women. The 2010 USARC will once again see a record amount of circuit prize money for a non-Olympic year with total prize purse of $623,850 offered by host events. U.S. athletes will also have the opportunity to qualify for various Team USA events, including the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships and the Chiba International Ekiden. The first ten U.S. runners earn points at each USARC race (15 for first, 12 for second, 10 for third, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1), with a final $12,500 grand prix purse ($6,000, $4,000, and $2,500) for the top three men and women point scorers overall. The USARC points at the USA Marathon Championships will be doubled. The mission of the USA Running Circuit is to showcase, support, and promote U.S. runners. Since its inception in 1995, the USARC and its races have provided over $6 million dollars to U.S. distance runners. For more information on the 2010 USA Half-Marathon Championships visit www.usatf.org. Related posts:
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