EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – East Stroudsburg University’s Quanette Jester capped a sensational four-year collegiate career late Saturday night by earning All-America honors and setting a school record in the triple jump at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships at SIU-Edwardsville.

Jester finished seventh of 17 competitors in the triple jump with a leap of 39-5 3/4. That was close to four inches better than her previous school mark of 39-2 set in winning the event at the Millersville Metrics in April.

Hillerie Shelton of Abilene Christian won the event at 41-10 followed by Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference champion Nikita Lewis of Slippery Rock, 41-0 1/4, and Amanda Thieschafer of North Dakota State, 40-11 1/2.

Carlene Cummings of St. Augustine;s, 40-6 1/4, Rita Majia of Cal State Los Angeles, 40-2 3/4, and Lara Woods of Tarleston State, 40-2 1/4, completed the top six.

The top eight finishers in each NCAA event scored team points and received All-America certificates. ESU scored five points for a 40th-place finish in the meet with Jenn Grube’s sixth in the javelin getting three points and Jester’s seventh earning two.

It marked the second time that the Warriors and Coach Joe Koch had two women’s All-Americas in the same meet. Two years ago, Jenelle Strine was seventh in the weight throw and Tina Vosper eighth in the 10,000-meter run.

Jester just missed gaining All-America honors in the high jump as she tied for ninth place at 5-3 3/4 which was the opening height. Only six of the 20 jumpers bettered 5-3 3/4,on a cold and rainy night . Maresa Cadienhead of Abilene Christian won the event at 5-10 1/2.

This was the first NCAA appearance for the ESU senior from Oakland, N.J., who was a four-time PSAC place-winner in both the triple jump and the high jump. She also placed three times in the conference in the long jump.

Jester won the conference triple jump title and was named the PSAC Rookie of the Year as a freshman. She placed second in the event to Lewis the last three years.

"What a great way to close a career with a school record and an All-America finish," said ESU Coach Joe Koch. "She is one of the finest competitors and absolutely the best team leader I’ve had in my 15 years as head coach."

The Warriors had one other competitor in the high jump in Shavanna Ross, but she failed to clear the opening height. Ross had gained All-America recognition by placing sixth in the high jump at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in March.

###