The Kentucky track and field teams picked up 11 All-America honors (nine women’s, two men’s) for the 2019 indoor track and field season, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) announced this week.
The UK women’s team had six First Teamers and three second teamers. The UK men’s team had one First Team selection and one Second Team claimant.
The Kentucky women’s team’s nine combined All-Americans tied with Oregon for sixth most in the nation amongst women’s programs.
Student-athletes earned First-Team All-America status by virtue of finishing among the top-eight of their events, including as members of a relay team, at the 2018 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships this past weekend in Birmingham, Alabama. Second-Team All-America honors went to those student-athletes who finished between ninth and 16th place.
The UK Women’s team placed 21st, and the men’s team finished 29th at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Women’s First Team
Senior Marie-Josée Ebwea-Bile Excel earned First Team All-America honors for the fourth time of her career, and second year in a row indoors for the triple jump.
Kianna Gray made the First Team in the 60m dash picking up the honor for the fifth time in her career, and first time indoors.
UK’s women’s 4x400m relay of Faith Ross, Chloe Abbott, Masai Russell and Abby Steiner earned the honor by virtue of their eighth-place finish to conclude the NCAA Championships.
Ross picked up First-Team honors for the third time, having claimed a NCAA 4x400m relay scoring spot indoors and outdoors last year and again this season.
Abbott picked up the accolade for the first time as a Wildcat having also earned First-Team recognition three times at Purdue in 2018 (400m outdoor, 4×4 indoors and out).
Russell and Steiner earned the honors as freshmen.
Men’s First Team
Daniel Roberts earned First-Team honors for the first time in his career after he took NCAA silver in the 60m hurdles with the second fastest time in collegiate history.
Roberts made the second team last year in the men’s 4x100m relay and 60m hurdles.
Women’s second team
Ellen Ekholm was named Second Team All-American in the high jump for the second time of her career, and first time indoors.
Ross and Steiner picked up second team honors in the 60m hurdles and 200m respectively.
Men’s second team
Noah Castle was named to the second team by virtue of his ninth-place shot put finish. He was named a Second Team All-American for the second time in his career (2018 outdoor discus). He made honorable mention in the shot put outdoors last season.
| Name | Team | Event |
| Daniel Roberts | First Team | 60m Hurdles |
| Marie-Josée Ebwea-Excel | First Team | Triple Jump |
| Kianna Gray | First Team | 60 Meters |
| Chloe Abbott | First Team | 4×400 Relay |
| Masai Russell | First Team | 4x400m relay |
| Faith Ross | First Team | 4x400m relay |
| Abby Steiner | First Team | 4x400m relay |
| Ellen Ekholm | Second Team | High Jump |
| Faith Ross | Second Team | 60 Hurdle |
| Abby Steiner | Second Team | 200 Meters |
| Noah Castle | Second Team | Shot Put |
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For more information contact:
Jake Most