6/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
June 2, 2000
DURHAM, N.C. - UNLV sophomore sprinter Michele Davis delivered the perfect encore to her first All-America honor on Friday. She added a second one.
Just one day after qualifying for the national finals in the 400 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Duke University's Wallace Wade Stadium, Davis turned the trick again by advancing to the finals in the 200 meters. She finished second in her heat in a season-best 23.19 seconds.
"I am very proud of Michele today," head coach Karen Dennis said. "She had her second solid race against a tough field, and for her to qualify (for the finals) in both events (200 and 400 meters) is vindication from last year."
At last year's NCAA Championships, Davis failed to advance to the finals and earn the coveted All-American honors. This year, however, she becomes only the second Rebel to reach the finals in the 200 and 400 meters. Crystal Irving qualified in both events in 1992, posting third- and fourth-place finishes respectively.
The finals in both races will be contested on Saturday, about one-and-a-half hours apart. The 400 is slated for 6:55 p.m. EDT with the 200 following at 8:20 p.m.
"Michele's in for a full day tomorrow," Dennis said. "It will be tough, and we'll try to keep her focused on just one race at a time."
Also looking to reach the finals for the Rebels was senior sprinter Ayanna Hutchinson. Hutchinson began the championships as the sixth-ranked athlete in the 100 meters, but finished sixth in her semifinal heat and failed to advance to Saturday's finals. However, she concludes her career as a Rebel with two conference titles (Indoor 60 meters, Outdoor 100 meters) and records in both events.
Senior Jessica Marable, who reached the finals in the shot put last year and qualified for this year's competition, was forced to miss the event with an injured back.
Regardless of the outcome of tomorrow's races, Davis retains All-America status in both events and concludes her sophomore season at UNLV. She is the school's fifth All-American this spring, along with swimmer Lorena Diaconescu, tennis star Katarina Malec, and golfers Jeremy Anderson and Michael Kirk.
