Clayton State University Athletics

Clayton State's Matthews Earns USTFCCCA Second-Team All-American Honors; Second Multi-Time Winner in Same Year
June 13, 2016

NEW ORLEANS, La. – Clayton State senior Jessica Matthews (Monroe, Ga.) closed out her career with a sixth overall appearance at the NCAA Division II National Championships last month and has garnered United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Second-Team All-American honors from her performance in the triple jump as announced by that organization.
 
Already an indoor All-American following a third place finish at nationals in March, Matthews finished 12^th at the outdoor championships, earning her Second-Team recognition. She is the first member of the women's track & field program to collect All-American honors in both indoor and outdoor during the season and equals Ayrton Azcue of the men's program. The latter accomplished the feat in the 800-meters during the 2013 campaign.
 
The award caps an impressive senior season for Matthews who, in addition to her All-American honor and third place finish at indoor nationals, was also named Southeast Region Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and USTFCCCA All-Region in the triple jump for both indoor and outdoor.
 
She also broke her own indoor program record twice at nationals (12.35-meters and 12.40-meters) before qualifying for the outdoor championships on her last jump of the regular season. She would post a distance of 12.30-meters and enter the field with the 12^th best jump in NCAA Division II.
 
Additionally, her six trips to nationals (Indoor in 2013, 2016, Outdoor from 2013-16) is the most in the history of the women's program and trails only Eric Simmons' seven appearances for the men's team from 2003-08.
 
"Another nice postseason honor for Jessica and the women's program," said head track & field coach Mike Mead. "The USTFCCCA began recognizing Second-Team All-Americans two seasons ago and Jessica is our first student-athlete to earn this distinction."