Highsmith Finishes Indoor Season by Earning All-America Honors at the NCAA Championship

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (March 15, 2008) - Senior Tamara Highsmith (East Haven, Conn.) recorded a personal best finish of 43-10.75 meters in the triple jump as she became the 11th UConn women's track and field athlete to earn the All American status. Highsmith finished the day in seventh place at the NCAA Division I Track & Field Championship.

Highsmith competed at her very best today, recording four of her top-five all-time jumps while at UConn.

"Tamara competed incredibly today," said head coach Bill Morgan. "She is the individual that we place our hat on for the season. She showed her leadership in a number of ways and for her to be at the NCAA's for a third time in four years is an incredibly feat. To pull off an All-American title after a spectacular season will make her a legacy once she leaves the University of Connecticut."

Fellow teammate, Carin Knight (New Rochelle, N.Y.) earned All-American honors yesterday in the high jump as she finished in fifth place. Knight became the UConn program's 10th individual to receive the All-America honors while Highsmith became the 11th. With the two Huskies' accomplishments, the program's number of titles improves to 21 All-Americans in UConn's all-time history.

With the spectacular performances both Highsmith and Knight qualified for the United States Olympic trails set for later this year.

"For Tamara to finish off her career wit the best (indoor) season of program history is incredible," said Morgan. "We started every meet with Tamara and finished with her just like we started the season with her doing tremendously well and we have finished with her becoming an All-American. I don't know what else we could ask for."

-UCONN-