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Saturday, June 12
Eugene, OR
5:20 p.m. (CT)
Rice University
vs
NCAA Championships (Fokam)
Fokam Places Third at NCAA Championships
6/12/2021 7:46:00 PM | Women's Track & Field
Senior breaks own school record; Owls’ third, First Team All-American
EUGENE, OR – Rice senior jumper Michelle Fokam recorded the best and last triple jump series of her illustrious collegiate career in memorable fashion, placing third and earning a bronze medal at the NCAA Outdoor Championships Saturday afternoon at Hayward Stadium.
Five of Fokam's six jump attempts exceeded her lifetime best mark (13.60m), including a soaring effort of 14.04m (46-0.75) on her third attempt to shatter her own school record. The Katy, Texas native earned First Team All-American accolades in her third career NCAA Outdoor Championships appearance.
Fokam recorded jumps of 13.67m, foul, and 14.04m before advancing to the finals and completing jumps of 13.78m, 13.90m, and 13.69m.
Fokam's third place finish was the best by an Owl since Krystal Robinson also placed third in the discus in 2006. She entered the meet ranked 12th and finished behind only Texas Tech's Ruth Usoro (1st-4.19m) and Georgia's Jasmine Moore (2nd-14.13m).
With Fokam earning seven points the Owls finished with 13 team points (fourth-most in program history and most since 2001) between the additional First Team All-American performances from Tara Simpson-Sullivan (4th-Hammer Throw) and Grace Forbes (7th-10,000m). Rice finished in a three-way tie for 21st place with the 13 points, the highest finish by the Owls since 2001 (9th-26 points).
It marked the first time Rice women's track and field recorded three, First Team All-Americans at the NCAA Outdoors since 2001 when Allison Beckford won gold in the 400m, placed second in the 400m hurdles, along with a second place finish by Alice Falaiye in the long jump.
Fokam concluded her Rice career as a four-time All-American and a 10-time C-USA champion while holding the school records in the outdoor triple jump (14.04m) and indoor triple jump (13.32m).
Fokam's season isn't finished yet as she has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials (also at Hayward Stadium), which will take place June 18 at 8:15 p.m. (CT). Should she advance to the finals those would occur on June 20 at 7:55 p.m. (CT).
Five of Fokam's six jump attempts exceeded her lifetime best mark (13.60m), including a soaring effort of 14.04m (46-0.75) on her third attempt to shatter her own school record. The Katy, Texas native earned First Team All-American accolades in her third career NCAA Outdoor Championships appearance.
Fokam recorded jumps of 13.67m, foul, and 14.04m before advancing to the finals and completing jumps of 13.78m, 13.90m, and 13.69m.
Fokam's third place finish was the best by an Owl since Krystal Robinson also placed third in the discus in 2006. She entered the meet ranked 12th and finished behind only Texas Tech's Ruth Usoro (1st-4.19m) and Georgia's Jasmine Moore (2nd-14.13m).
With Fokam earning seven points the Owls finished with 13 team points (fourth-most in program history and most since 2001) between the additional First Team All-American performances from Tara Simpson-Sullivan (4th-Hammer Throw) and Grace Forbes (7th-10,000m). Rice finished in a three-way tie for 21st place with the 13 points, the highest finish by the Owls since 2001 (9th-26 points).
It marked the first time Rice women's track and field recorded three, First Team All-Americans at the NCAA Outdoors since 2001 when Allison Beckford won gold in the 400m, placed second in the 400m hurdles, along with a second place finish by Alice Falaiye in the long jump.
Fokam concluded her Rice career as a four-time All-American and a 10-time C-USA champion while holding the school records in the outdoor triple jump (14.04m) and indoor triple jump (13.32m).
Fokam's season isn't finished yet as she has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials (also at Hayward Stadium), which will take place June 18 at 8:15 p.m. (CT). Should she advance to the finals those would occur on June 20 at 7:55 p.m. (CT).
-RiceOwls.com-
Players Mentioned
Jumps
/ Women's Track & Field
Distance
/ Women's Track & Field
Throws
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