Cramer Earns Third All-America Honor; BYU Women Finish 15th at NCAAs

FAYETTEVILLE -- Lacey Cramer ended the track and field season on a high, earning All-America honors and helping BYU to a No. 15 national ranking at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.

BYU finished 15th in the nation with 15.5 points, their best mark since 2005. Rounding out the top five were Texas A&M (50 points), Oregon (43), Arizona St. (41), Florida St. (40) and Texas (36).

“I’m very proud of our team and the way they represented BYU all season long,” said BYU women’s head track and field coach Craig Poole. “I’m excited for Ada [Robinson], Cecily [Lemmon] and Lacey [Cramer], who earned All-America honors this week.”

Cramer, who secured two All-America honors during the indoor season, garnered her third All-America honor on Saturday with a fourth-place finish in the 800-meter event (2:03.19).

Cramer was the lone freshman in an 800-meter final that boasted four NCAA Champions including her own indoor national title performance.

“Lacey’s accomplishments this season would be incredible for anyone, but are almost unheard of as a freshman,” said BYU women’s distance coach Patrick Shane. “Today she competed against a phenomenal field and we are very happy with her fourth-place finish.”

Finishing ahead of the Cedar Hills native was two-time National Champion Geena Gall of Michigan, who clocked a winning time of 2:00.80, Laura Hermanson of North Dakota State, who took second (2:01.37) and former National Champion LaTavia Thomas of LSU, who finished third (2:01.56).

Cramer, the 2009 NCAA Indoor 800-meter National Champion was unable to repeat as the outdoor champion. However, she solidified herself as one of the best freshman athletes in school history. Cramer was the first athlete in any sport at BYU to win a National Championship as a freshman.

She owns the schools fastest indoor 800-meter time (2:03.91) and the second fastest 800-meter outdoor time (2:03.01), both times are Mountain West Conference records.

Cramer also helped the Cougars make history during the indoor season when the team finished No. 3 in the nation, marking their best finish ever. The 2009 BYU track and field team also doubled their 2008 All-America honors with eight.

“We have an excellent foundation for the future,” Poole said. “Everyone that earned points this year will be back again, which is really exciting. We plan on taking some time off and then preparing for next season.”

All eight All-American’s will return to the Cougar lineup in 2010, including both National Champions, making it one of the most feared programs in the nation.

For complete results and coverage of the Championships go to click here.

Cougars Competing at Nationals
Name                       Event          Schedule/Results
Cecily Lemmon              10000m         Placed 2nd - All-America 
Lacey Cramer               800m           Placed 4th - All-America
Ada Robinson               High Jump      Placed 5th - All-America
Amy Menlove                Heptathlon     Did not advance
Katie Palmer               1500m          Did not advance
Ilze Gribule               Javelin        Did not advance
Mindy Neeley-McClurkin     Long Jump      Did not advance
Kari McAllister-Clark      Pole Vault     Did not advance
* All Times Central