Abron earns All-America finish in 100 meters at NCAA III Championships
OSHKOSH, Wis. -- Benedictine University senior Kimyenna Abron (Chicago, Ill./Hyde Park H.S.) became the first female in school history to earn All-America honors in a running event, with a fourth place finish in the 100 meter dash at the 2008 NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Oshkosh, Wis. Abron posted a school-record time of 11.99 seconds in Saturday's 100 meter finale.

Abron advanced by winning her heat on Friday in a time of 12.16, the fifth-fastest time overall among the nine finalists, and had set the previous school record in the 100 meters during the second week of the outdoor season with a 12.09 seconds. Abron also qualified for the 2008 championships in the 200 meters, but did not advance out of her preliminary race on Thursday evening, and was also an indoor championships participant in the 55 meters.

"We are so proud of her efforts," said Benedictine's veteran head coach Jon Wolcott. "To earn an All-American award with such limited track experience truly says a lot about her natural abilities. We worked with Kim on little adjustments right up to before her race and she incorporated the information we gave her.

"This was her reward!"

Abron had never participated in collegiate track and field prior to the 2008 season, having played three years of women's soccer for the Benedictine University program. On the track in 2008, she was the Northern Athletics Conference (NAC) champion indoors in both the 55 and 200 meters, while taking outdoor individual honors in the 100 and 200 meters, as well. She set school and NAC records in all four of her championship events.

Abron's All-America award is also extra special for Wolcott, as her race was the final event in his 18-years at the helm of Benedictine's track and field program, after announcing his retirement earlier this month. In all, Wolcott has coached Eagle athletes to six NCAA Division III All-America awards during his tenure.

Courtesy of Benedictine University, Sports Information Department, May 24, 2008.