22 track athletes make all-conference indoor team

After claiming seven individual conference titles and a team crown at the 2012 Mountain West Conference Indoor Championships last weekend, the TCU track & field program was honored with the announcement of 22 student-athletes listed on the league’s men’s and women’s All-Mountain West Conference Indoor teams.

All-Conference selections are awarded to the top three finishers in each event at the Mountain West Championships. Among the student athletes earning recognition, head coach Darryl Anderson also was touted as the Mountain West Women’s Coach of the Year.

Senior Whitney Gipson stood out for the Frogs over the weekend, earning All-Mountain West honors for winning the gold medal in the women’s long jump and placing third in the 200 meters. The North Richland Hills native nailed her best leap on her fifth attempt, soaring to a distance of 21-10 3/4. Her mark is the best in the nation this season, and it broke the conference championship record for the event. She also set a new TCU program benchmark, surpassing Donna Thomas’ jump of 21-5 1/4 from the 1985 season.

Gipson became the second Frog to ever win two indoor long jump titles, joining 2003 and 2004 Conference USA champion Aundre Edwards.

Freshman Lorraine Ugen garnered silver medal honors behind Gipson after making a personal-best leap of 21-4 1/4, while also earning all-conference accolades for her third-place finish in the 60 meters.

Junior Chaniqua Corinealdi also earned a pair of conference nods Tuesday, earning considerations for claiming gold in the 60 meters and 200 meters. The Killeen product led the way in the 60 meters with her fastest time of 2012 at 7.32 seconds. In the 200 meters, Corinealdi paced the field with a time of 23.61 seconds for the title.

Freshman Orlene Parris collected All-Mountain West honors for her gold medal performance in the women’s high jump, clearing 5-9 1/4 to become the first female Frog to ever win a conference title in the event, and she joins Jason Howard as the only other TCU athlete to win high jump gold.

Senior Quinterra Charles earned all-conference considerations after finishing second in the women’s 400 meters and as a member of TCU’s 4×400 squad. Junior Larrisa Matthews made the all-conference team in the women’s 60-meter hurdles for the third straight year, finishing second in the finals. Briyanni Thomas, Neferteria Hall and Ashley Collins also were honored, collecting league recognition as members of the women’s 4×400.

In the distance events, junior Agnes Kemboi picked up a silver medal in the women’s 5K with a time of 17:00.69, while senior Kelly Dawson finished third overall in the mile run.

From the infield, junior Kelsey Samuels placed second overall in the women’s shot put, boasting a top mark of 50-6 3/4, while newcomer Megan Smith followed for bronze medal honors with a toss of 50-3 1/4.

On the men’s side, Charles Silmon received all-conference honors after claiming the gold medal in the men’s 60 meters and 200 meters. The Waco product had to overcome adversity to win the 60 meters with a time of 6.72 seconds, while sophomore Jeffrey Josephs claimed 60-meter bronze at 6.87 seconds. In the 200 meters, Silmon torched the field with a personal-best time of 21.04 seconds. Sophomore Lavon Collins claimed league honors for his third-place finish in the 200 meters and for teaming up with Narada Jackson, OJ Stoneham and Joshua Washington for silver in the 4×400 relay.

Junior Cameron Tabor put an exclamation point on his tremendous indoor season by capturing the men’s shot put title with a top throw of 59-1 1/4. The conference title marks the fourth shot put win of the season for the Norman, Okla., native and the first indoor league crown ever by a Frog in the event. Tabor also earned All-Mountain West marks for his third-place finish in the weight throw.

In the field events, senior Cameron Parker picked up his second-league honor for his performance in the triple jump, while freshman Ramone Bailey jumped to a third-place finish in the long jump.

TCU All-Mountain West Indoor Team

Darryl Anderson — Mountain West Women’s Coach of the Year

Men’s All-Conference Team
Ramone Bailey: long jump
Lavon Collins: 200 m
Jeffrey Josephs: 60 m
Cameron Parker: triple jump
Charles Silmon: 60 m, 200 m
Cameron Tabor: shot put, weight throw
4×400 Relay: Narada Jackson, Lavon Collins, OJ Stoneham and Joshua Washington

Women’s All-Conference Team
Quinterra Charles: 400 m
Chaniqua Corinealdi: 60 m, 200 m
Kelly Dawson: mile run
Whitney Gipson: long jump, 200 m
Agnes Kemboi: 5K run
Larissa Matthews: 60-m hurdles
Orelene Parris: high jump
Kelsey Samuels: shot put
Megan Smith: shot put
Lorraine Ugen: long jump, 60 m
4×400 Relay: Briyanni Thomas, Quinterra Charles, Neferteria Hall and Ashley Collins