June 11, 2016
Event: NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Day, Date: Wednesday-Saturday, June 8-11
Host: University of Oregon
Site: Hayward Field (Eugene, Oregon)
Results: HERE
All-Time First Team All-Americans
Simone Charley’s legacy continues to get richer.
The triple-jumping standout from Hoover, Ala., set a new lifetime best and earned First Team All-American status — again — with a leap of 45-02.25 and a second-place finish at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on Saturday afternoon in Eugene, Ore.
“She went big today,” said head coach Steve Keith. “She looked really relaxed — I even saw her dancing a little bit to the music on the PA — and just a delivered a great performance.”
It was Charley’s third consecutive appearance at the outdoor national meet, and the second straight year that she has earned First Team All-American honors. She was a Second Team Outdoor All-American as a freshman.
“Today was another huge day for Simone, and I couldn’t possibly be more proud of her,” said Vanderbilt associate head coach Clark Humphreys. “For her to be in a high-pressure setting, and come out her and set a lifetime best, it just shows how mentally tough she is.”
Georgia sophomore standout Keturah Orji punctuated her record-shattering season with a winning leap of 47-8 (14.53m), which not only set a new NCAA Championship record but also is the best mark by any American in history.
“It’s pretty incredible that we have two absolutely outstanding triple jumpers who have come along at the same time,” said Humphreys. “The mark that Simone posted today would probably be good enough to win a NCAA Championship in almost any year. But that’s a credit to Orji. She’s a great competitor, just like Simone.”
Charley’s best jump came on her first attempt, and she sat atop the leaderboard following the opening round.
“Simone came out ready to go at it today,” said Humphreys. “You see some athletes who have a hard time replicating their success at this level, but Simone just keeps rising to the occasion. It’s hard to even put into words how impressive that really is. Let me put it this way: She is the one you want with the ball in her hands at the end of the game with the clock winding down.”
“Simone has had so many positive expereiences at the national meet in the past, and I think that helps her relax,” said Keith. “She expects to do well, and that’s a big part of it.”
Check back at vucommodores.com for more on Charley.
CHARLEY’S CAREER TO DATE:
2016 Outdoor: First Team All-American; finished second at the NCAA Championships.
2016 Indoor: First Team All-American; finished second at the NCAA Championships.
2015 Outdoor: First Team All-American; finished third at NCAA Championships.
2015 Indoor: First-Team All-American; finished fourth at NCAA Championships.
2014 Outdoor: Second Team All-American; finished ninth at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.
SATURDAY’S RESULTS (Vanderbilt)
Triple Jump
2. Simone Charley – 42-02.25 (13.77m)
THURSDAY’S RESULT (Vanderbilt)
1500 prelims
22. Katherine Delaney – 4:22.13
