Kemp, Koon named NCAA All-Americans
11/21/2016 10:35:00 AM | Cross Country
USTFCCCA Release
NEW ORLEANS - Two Wolfpackers earned All-American status after finishing in the top 40 of the women's race at the NCAA Championships, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.
Senior Erika Kemp led the team with a 17th-place finish and redshirt sophomore Rachel Koon finished close behind in 25th-place. Less than five seconds separated the two, as they completed the 6k race in 20:10.6 and 20:15.0, respectively.
Kemp was one of the team's most consistent runners this season, finishing as the leader of the Pack in all but one race. At the adidas XC Challenge in September, her fourth-place finish helped the team to a 14-point victory over ACC rival UNC. She continued to finish as NC State's top runner as the season progressed with a seventh place-finish at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and an eighth-place finish at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational.
At the ACC Championships in October, Kemp crossed the line as the Wolfpack's eighth runner. Nonetheless, the team showed its depth, winning the ACC title despite Kemp's unusual finish. Two weeks later at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet in Charlottesville, Virginia, she proved her ACCs performance to be a fluke, returning stronger than ever. Kemp earned her highest finish of the year with a runner-up performance to secure All-Regional honors. Her strong effort helped the Wolfpack take the Regional crown, clinching the team an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
In the final cross country race of her collegiate career, Kemp led NC State for the sixth time this season, finishing in 17th place at the NCAA Championship with a time of 20:10.6.
Koon was also a strong leader for the team, finishing in NC State's top three at every race this season. At the first three meets of the season, she finished as the team's second fastest runner behind Kemp, with a fifth-place finish, a 27th-place finish and an 18th-place finish at the adidas Challenge, Notre Dame Invitational and Wisconsin Invitational, respectively.
Her championship season was equally as strong as the rest of her performances, as she finished as NC State's top runner at the ACC Championships, earning All-ACC honors with a fourth-place finish. At Regionals, Koon finished as the teams third scorer behind Kemp and sophomore Ryen Frazier in 11th place to earn All-Regional honors.
At the NCAA Championships, Koon sealed her All-American standing with a 25th-place finish overall.
Both ladies will compete in the indoor track and field season.
NEW ORLEANS - Two Wolfpackers earned All-American status after finishing in the top 40 of the women's race at the NCAA Championships, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Monday.
Senior Erika Kemp led the team with a 17th-place finish and redshirt sophomore Rachel Koon finished close behind in 25th-place. Less than five seconds separated the two, as they completed the 6k race in 20:10.6 and 20:15.0, respectively.
Kemp was one of the team's most consistent runners this season, finishing as the leader of the Pack in all but one race. At the adidas XC Challenge in September, her fourth-place finish helped the team to a 14-point victory over ACC rival UNC. She continued to finish as NC State's top runner as the season progressed with a seventh place-finish at the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational and an eighth-place finish at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational.
At the ACC Championships in October, Kemp crossed the line as the Wolfpack's eighth runner. Nonetheless, the team showed its depth, winning the ACC title despite Kemp's unusual finish. Two weeks later at the NCAA Southeast Regional meet in Charlottesville, Virginia, she proved her ACCs performance to be a fluke, returning stronger than ever. Kemp earned her highest finish of the year with a runner-up performance to secure All-Regional honors. Her strong effort helped the Wolfpack take the Regional crown, clinching the team an automatic berth to the NCAA Championships.
In the final cross country race of her collegiate career, Kemp led NC State for the sixth time this season, finishing in 17th place at the NCAA Championship with a time of 20:10.6.
Koon was also a strong leader for the team, finishing in NC State's top three at every race this season. At the first three meets of the season, she finished as the team's second fastest runner behind Kemp, with a fifth-place finish, a 27th-place finish and an 18th-place finish at the adidas Challenge, Notre Dame Invitational and Wisconsin Invitational, respectively.
Her championship season was equally as strong as the rest of her performances, as she finished as NC State's top runner at the ACC Championships, earning All-ACC honors with a fourth-place finish. At Regionals, Koon finished as the teams third scorer behind Kemp and sophomore Ryen Frazier in 11th place to earn All-Regional honors.
At the NCAA Championships, Koon sealed her All-American standing with a 25th-place finish overall.
Both ladies will compete in the indoor track and field season.
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