March 12, 2005

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Christine Spence earned All-America track and field honors for the second time in her Rebel career and first in indoor track with her eighth-place finish in the pentathlon Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Spence racked up 4,036 points, breaking UNLV's school record in the event she had set two weeks ago with 3,958 points at the Mountain West Conference Championships.

Ashley Selig of Nebraska won the pentathlon with 4,327 points to narrowly defeat Amy Menlove of BYU who scored 4,312 points.

Spence was in excellent shape after two events of the five-event competition after finishing fifth in the 60 meters (8.58) and winning the high jump (5'-11.50") to score 2,003 points.

After a career-best effort in the shot put of 36'-7.50" Spence struggled in the long jump, one of her strongest events. She fouled on her first two attempts and on the third she made sure to get a mark but Spence only jumped 15'-11.00", dropping her all the way down to 13th.

Spence battled back in the final event of the competition, finishing third in the 800 with a time of 2:13.93 to move up into eighth and earn All-America honors.

The two-time All-American earned her first such honor last year at the 2004 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 400 meter hurdles.