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MWC’s 15 All-Americans in One Sport

MWC Indoor Track and Field Athletes who Earn All-American

Jandakot Airport Track Classic Photo by James Worsfold/Getty Images

Quick question, in what sport did 9 Mountain West Conference schools have athletes earn All-American Status?

Answer: Indoor Track and Field

While not the biggest sports draw for fans, the Mountain West track and field programs are among the most successful teams in the nation. New Mexico women took 5th place at the NCAA indoor meet, with San Diego State, Boise State, and Air Force all scoring points. The 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifying marks have also been release and there are multiple Mountain West athletes who are eyeing a trip to the Games. Below is a list of the All-American athletes.

New Mexico

Sophomore Weini Kelati earned two first team All-American honors with a runner-up finish in the 5000 meters with a time of 15:32.95 and a third-place finish in the 3000-meter with a time of 9:02.44. Kelati is now a 5 time All-American having earned first team All-American in 2018 indoor season in both 3000 meters and 5000 meters and second team All-American in the 2019 outdoor 5000 meters.

Senior Ednah Kurgat earned 1st team All-American in the 5000 meters by finishing 4th with a time of 15:39.04 and second team All-American with a 9th place finish in the 3000 meters with a time of 9:11.80. Kurgat has earn seven All-American awards. First team All-American in both the 3000 meter and 5000 meter at the 2018 Indoor Meet and first team All-American in 5000 meters at the 2018 Outdoor meet. She also earned two All-American awards while at Liberty University a first team All-American in the 5000 meters at the 2016 Outdoor meet and second team All-American in the 5000 meters at the 2016 Indoor meet. She is also the school record holder in the outdoor 5000 meters at 15:19.03, the Olympic qualifying time was just set at 15:10.00.

Junior Charlotte Prouse earned first team All-American in the 5000 meters by finishing 5th with a time of 15:39.04 and second-team All-American accolades with an 11th place finish in the 3000 meters with a time of 9:15.28. Prouse is now a four-time All-American earning first team All-American in the 3000 meter steeplechase at the outdoor meet in 2018 and second team All-American by running the 1600 meter leg of the distance medley relay in the 2018 Indoor meet.

Senior Michael Wilson earned a second team All-America in the 800-meter with a time of 1:49.97 and a 12th place finish.

San Diego State

Senior Bonnie Drawler cleared 4.56 meters (14 ft 11.5 inches) in the pole vault to place second overall and earn first team All-American. Not only is the mark a new school record and Mountain West conference record, it is the 8th all-time NCAA indoor mark. This is Drawler’s 3rd All-American award as she earned second team All-American at the 2018 indoor meet and All-American honorable mention at the 2017 outdoor meet. The Olympic qualifying mark in 4.70 meters or 15 ft 5 inches.

UNLV

Senior Destiny Smith-Barnett ran 60 meters in 7.19 seconds to place 4th and earned first team All-America honors. This is her second All-American indoor award and fifth All-American overall. In 2017, she was a second team All-American also in 60 meters. Smith-Barnett also has three outdoor All-American awards earning Second Team All-American in the 100m in 2017 and twice as a member of the 4x100m relay team second team All-American in 2017 and honorable mention in 2018.

Boise State

Junior Allie Ostrander earned first team All-American with a 4th place finish in the 3000M with a time of 9:04.76 and a bloodied shin.

Senior Alexis Fuller ran the mile in 4:41.19 to place 9th and second-team All-America honors. This is the third All-America honor in Fuller’s career. She was a member of Boise State’s distance medley relay that earned first-team honors at the 2018 indoor national championships, and earned honorable mentions honors in the 1500m during the outdoor track season that year.

Air Force

Junior Michael Rhoads earned first-team All-America placed 8th in the 800 meters finishing in 1:48.49. Rhoads became the Academy’s first two-time All-American at 800 meters having earned second team All-American last year.

Senior Jaci Smith earned two more All-America awards at the NCAA indoor meet, bringing her total to four since last June. Smith placed 6th in the 5000 meter run with a time of 15:40.26 for first team All-American status and 14th in the 3000 meter run with a time of 9:20.68 to earn second team All-American status. She has earned All-American status at 3000 meters, 5000 meters, 10,000 meters and in cross country.

Nevada

Sophomore Nicola Ader cleared 1.76 meters (5 ft 9.25 inches) in the high jump to place 9th overall and earn second team All-American. She is just the 6th track and field athlete from Nevada to qualify for indoors NCAA national meet and now has the highest place ever in Nevada history.

Colorado State

Senior Kelcey Bedard placed 13th in the weight throw with a toss of 20.10 meters (65ft 11.5 inches) to earn her second second-team All-America recognition. She also earned second team All-American status in the hammer throw at the 2018 NCAA Outdoor National Meet.

Senior Marybeth Sant placed 12th in the 60 meter dash with a time of 7.34 to earn CSU’s first ever All-American award for a woman sprinter by earning second team All-American status.

Wyoming

Senior and school record holder Ja’la Henderson placed 13th in the triple jump with a mark of 12.82 meters (42 ft 0.75 in) to earn second-team All-America honors. This is her third All-American award as she also earned second team All-American status in the long jump and honorable mention All-American status in the triple jump at the 2018 NCAA outdoor National meet. She is also the first indoor triple jump All-American in Wyoming history.

Fresno State

Senior and current school record holder Jestena Mattson scored 4032 points in pentathlon for 13th place and second team All-American