Nambawa places third overall earning All-American honors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Sarah Nambawa received All-American honors in the women's triple jump Saturday at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships by placing third overall in the event.

Nambawa, who entered Saturday's final round in first place after the preliminary round jumps, came in behind second-place Yasmine Regis of Texas A&M and overall winner Kim Williams of Florida State. Nambawa matched her mark from Friday's preliminary round with a distance of 45-3 (13.79m).

The third-place finish gives the Kampala, Uganda native her first NCAA Outdoor All-American honor and third overall All-American honor of her collegiate career. She becomes the first Middle Tennessee female to earn an Outdoor All-American accolade since Dionne Rose in 1994.

Nambawa earned six team points to put the Middle Tennessee women's team in a tie for 43rd in the final team standings with Stanford, Houston and Hampton.

Stanley Gbagbeke's second-place finish in Thursday's men's long jump competition earned the sophomore eight points for the men's team, placing the Blue Raiders in a tie for 32nd with Georgia Tech, Iowa State and Northern Arizona. Both the men's and women's teams finished better than any other Sun Belt Conference school.

Saturday's competition concludes the 2009 season for the Middle Tennessee track and field teams. Selected athletes will participate in various events throughout the summer and stay tuned to goblueraiders.com for updates.

Friend of the Blue Raiders? Like us on Facebook and become part of the True Blue army today.