University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
NCAA Outdoor Championships
Sarah Howard Earns All-America Honors
June 9, 2017 | Track & Field
EUGENE, Ore. – Sarah Howard earned second-team All-America honors in the shot put at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Thursday after a NCAA Championship-best throw of 16.58m (54-4¾) to finish 12th, which was also a best for Howard at the Championships.
Howard finishes the year with second-team All-America honors in outdoor shot put for the second time in her career. In 2015, she finished 14th at the Outdoor Championships with a throw of 16.20m (53-1¾).
“Our goal was to be first-team All-America, but she competed really well,” Head Coach Harlis Meaders said. “Came in ranked 15th in the country and finished 12th, which is always good in an elite level field like this. Sarah's been a vital part of the program. She's been almost like an assistant coach to me at times working with some of the younger kids. She's going to be a big loss. Really proud of everything that she's accomplished for us while she was here.”
The redshirt senior wraps up a decorated Tar Heel career. Between her indoor and outdoor seasons, Howard is now three-time All-America, a four-time NCAA Championship competitor and a four-time All-ACC honoree. She is also only the second Tar Heel female to qualify for the Outdoor Championships in shot put three times in a career.
Howard's dad texted her once the event had wrapped up. He said, “You know we started this 12 years ago. We never really thought you'd be top in the NCAA, right?”
To go out as All-America is just a little sweeter for Howard, and it's for a reason that many may not expect.
“I was terrible at all sports,” Howard said. “I was a klutz. Throwing was the only thing I was kind of good at, and it just took off from there. First steps were, try to go to college, and then it was, 'Well, I can get my college education paid for,' and then it was like, 'Well, I can go to NCAAs.' I have no regrets looking back at it. Put in a lot of time, blood, sweat and tears, for real. I've loved every minute of it”
For Howard, the conclusion of her career could not have come at a better location under more perfect conditions. A consistently overcast day in Eugene let the sun pass through the clouds just as the event was getting underway in the center of historic Hayward Field.
“If you're going to end your career somewhere,” Howard said. “This is the place to do it.”
Howard threw 16.28m (53-5) on her first attempt and scratched on her third, but the second throw sealed her All-American send-off.
“Been a heck of a ride,” Howard said.
ANNA EATON
Anna Eaton was a newcomer to the Outdoor Championships after having a phenomenal sophomore season in pole vault. She set a personal best of 4.23m (13-10½) earlier this year and was set to push for All-America honors.
“I was a little less nervous than I expected to be,” Eaton said. So that was good, but my warm up wasn't as good as I was hoping, and I think that kind of contributed to the end result.”
On her first attempt, Eaton was way under on her approach and wound up too close to the box when she went to take off. She wasn't able to carry her momentum over the bar, causing Eaton to fall back and land hard on the ground in front of the box. Medical personnel tended to Anna for sometime, and at one point it looked as if Anna's spirits might keep her in the competition. Eaton was moved to a bench off to the side, a big smile across her face, but if you ask her parents they will tell you their daughter's just a smiling girl.
Eaton would have to cut the day short, as the fall was worse than she would ever let on.
“I know that she's a little disappointed to work so hard to get to this point, then just had that unfortunate incident happen for her,” Meaders said. “But we're really proud of everything she's accomplished this year. To get another young lady back to the NCAA Championships is big for us. The vault has been a really big part of our program. I think she's got a really big future.”
For Eaton, this just means she has unfinished business and more motivation to return in 2018, and her attitude wouldn't let you think otherwise.
“I mean every season has its ups and downs,” Eaton said. But I'm really happy I did get the chance to compete and I hope it's not my last time. Definitely want to come back and keep in the chase for All-America.”
At the team's dinner following the second day of competition, Eaton's coach Jon Debogory put the weekend into perspective.
“You're worst day at nationals,” he said. “Is always better than your best day at home.”
UP NEXT: Kenny Selmon will look to capture a national title as he competes in the 400-meter hurdles Friday night. Selmon will take the track at 9:57 p.m. ET looking to become Carolina's first national champion since 2007, and first in the 400 hurdles since 1995.
Players Mentioned
