Toledo's Stenback earns All-American status

6/10/2006
BLADE STAFF

SACRAMENTO - Toledo senior Ebba Stenback (10:08.68) finished in eighth place in the 3000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships yesterday.

Stenback's eighth-place finish earned her All-American honors.

"Ebba went for the win," said Rockets head coach Kevin Hadsell. "She led for the first 2,000 meters before the pack overtook her. I'm really proud of her. This was her first time at the national championship and she walks away an All-American."

Junior April Williams, who earned All-American honors in the long jump, finished in 22nd place in the triple jump to miss qualifying for the finals.

Virginia Powell of Southern California broke the collegiate 100-meter hurdle record for the second time in three days, ending her fabulous USC career with a 12.48-second victory at the NCAA track and field championships.

Aries Merritt of Tennessee won the men's 110 hurdles in 13.21, matching the fastest time in the world this year - by Liu Xiang of China - and breaking the NCAA meet record of 13.22 set by Greg Foster of UCLA in 1978. Only Renaldo Nehemiah ran faster as a collegian.