All-American Leap

GAMBIER, Ohio (May 27, 2005) For the second time in her collegiate career, Kenyon junior Katie Walker walked away from the NCAA Division III Women's Track & Field Championship as an All-American. Walker earned the honor by placing sixth Thursday evening in the long jump event at the national meet.

Twenty athletes were selected to participate in the championship, which was held at Wartburg College. Walker, who was the first jumper in the first of two flights, executed a jump that measured 18' 5 1/4". That jumped turned out to be the second best in her flight and the fifth-best overall. It also qualified her for the final round of competition, which included just the top ten jumpers from the two flights.

In the final round, Walker jumped 18' 2 1/2" on her first attempt, and then faulted on her second attempt. On her final sprint down the runway, Walker nailed another jump of 18' 5 1/4", which held up for sixth place overall.

Andretta Colley, a senior from the University of St. Thomas, won the event with a final leap of 19' 5 1/4". Four of the five jumpers that finished ahead of Walker were seniors.

Walker, who has qualified for three straight NCAA Championships, placed fifth in the nation her freshman season with a career-best jump of 18' 10 3/4". Last season she failed to make it out of the preliminary round.