There was no shortage of accomplishments for the NMU women’s track and field team this season and it showed as three wildcats captured All-American honors last weekend.
On Friday, May 25 it was sophomore Jamie Roberts becoming a two-time outdoor All-American in the pole Vault.
Roberts cleared 12 feet, 7 1/2 inches to take third place in the NCAA Division II Women’s Championship in Pueblo, Colo.
The ’Cats weren’t finished on the day as Redshirt freshman Sherice Hewett captured All-American status in the triple jump with a leap of 40 feet 4.75 inches, good for eight place.
Earlier in the month Hewett became the GLIAC triple jump champion as she set a conference and school record with a jump of 41 feet and 0.25 inches.
Senior high jumper Bailey Franklin had high praises for her teammates.
“I am so proud of the other two All-Americans this year, Jaime Roberts and Sherice Hewitt,” Franklin said. “They have done so well and are still so young. They are going to be unstoppable in the next few years and that will be fun to watch.”
On Saturday, it was Franklin’s turn to leave her mark. The senior high jumper became an All-American for the third time as she broke her own school record clearing 5 feet, 9.25 inches.
The leap earned her fifth place at the meet. Franklin said it was a fitting end to her time at NMU.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my track career. I ended up hitting my all time PR (personal record) and received All-American honor while doing it,” Franklin said. “It was also great that my whole family was there to see it. It really was the best way for me to go out.”
Franklin was also an indoor All-American in the 2010-11 season.
The three ’Cats earning All-American status was a fitting way to cap off a season that featured seven athletes being named to the All-Midwest Region team and the team capturing third place at the GLIAC Championship.
“All that success comes from a long season of working hard,” Franklin said. “We started track two weeks after school and some of us are just ending now. If your body can handle all of that training, it will pay off down the road.”
