Senior Carolee Gutierrez became just the second female track and field athlete in Eastern Washington University history to earn All-America honors by placing eighth in the javelin (161 feet, 10 inches) at the 2007 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Championships in Sacramento, Calif., (June 9).
After the preliminaries on Thursday night, Gutierrez was third with a throw of 170-1 to qualify her for the finals. She was ranked fourth going into championships with a throw of 175-5, which placed her second at the NCAA West Regional Championships (May 25-26).
“I was pleased that she was able to throw 161 and do what she did in her first big experience,” head women's coach Marcia Mecklenburg said. “A championship atmosphere is difficult, but she went into the preliminaries and championships as a pro.”
The only other female All-American in Eastern history was Kari McKay, who placed fourth in the 10,000 (35:18.15) in 1992.
Senior Lindsey Blaine of Purdue, who was ranked seventh after preliminaries, won the event with a throw of 182-3.
Gutierrez was only one of four Big Sky Conference athletes to earn All-America honors at this year's championships.
Lopez Lomong of Northern Arizona was the only BSC men's All-American as he won the 1500 with a time of 3:37.07.
For the women, Weber State's Lindsey Anderson took second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (9:46.48) and Elouise Rudy, the 2007 NCAA indoor champion, finished fourth in the pole vault (13-7.25).
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