Brown Competes at NCAA Championships
7/1/2007 4:19:00 AM
SACRAMENTO, Calif. ? Triple jumper Nicole Brown's stellar season came to a close, Friday, after coming up inches short of qualifying for Saturday's finals at the 2007 NCAA Track & Field Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
The Lawrenceville, Ga. native competed in the Triple Jump preliminary round, the second of two events that brought her to the Spanos Sports Complex to compete among the nation's elite. But the Southern Conference Outdoor ?Track Athlete of the Year' and Indoor ?Field Athlete of the Year' came up short of qualifying for the next day's final competition by less than eight inches.
Brown hit her longest mark on her third and final attempt at 12.89m (42'-3.50”) after touching down at 12.85m on her first jump and scratching on the second. Her mark was 21st best on the day with only the top 12 jumpers advancing to the next day's final.
“Unfortunately, it all didn't come together when she needed it to,” said head coach Natalie Smith. “But I'm very proud of her, and although her marks weren't what she wanted, she represented Georgia Southern very well.”
“Anything is possible, especially through God,” said Brown, the first female track & field athlete to represent Georgia Southern at Nationals.
Although her four-year collegiate career came to an end, Brown says that the experiences she's had at Georgia Southern can be an example of hard work and focus.
“For a lot of the young individuals on our team, it shows an example of what the future can hold,” said Brown. “You just need to keep your mind focused on where you want to go.”
Complete Championship results are posted on-line at http://www.ncaasports.com/track-and-field/recaps/outdoor/di_track_results/2007.
Nicole Brown's 2006-2007 Highlights
Brown's outstanding indoor competition culminated in being named SoCon ?Field Athlete of the Year' upon winning four individual titles at the conference championships (60m, 200m, Triple Jump, Long Jump). Additionally, Brown received five All-Conference honors for her performances in the 60m, 200m, Triple Jump, Long Jump, and 4x400m. She holds the school record in 60m, 200m, Triple Jump and Long Jump.
In outdoor competition, Brown won five events (100m, 200m, Triple Jump, Long Jump, 4x400m) at the SoCon Championships (Apr. 21) before being named ?SoCon Track Athlete of the Year.' She received six All-Conference honors (100m, 200m, Triple Jump, Long Jump, 4x100m, and 4x400m), and currently holds the school record in 100m, 200m, Long Jump, Triple Jump, and is a member of the record-holding 4x200m and 4x400m teams.
Brown became the first female track & field athlete to represent Georgia Southern at the NCAA Championships after qualifying in both the Triple and Long Jump competitions.
