Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
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CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director

DATE: Fri., March 9, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Track & Field

Hopson becomes All-American with sixth-place finish

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Add the name of Julia Hopson to the list of Fredonia State track and field All-Americans.

Hopson, a sophomore from Poughkeepsie, where she attended Arlington H.S., earned the highly coveted distinction with a sixth-place finish in the women's 20-pound weight throw at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships.

It was her first time competing at the national meet, being held this year at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.

"We're very proud of her," said Fredonia State head track and field coach Nolan Swanson, who attended the meet along with first-year assistant coach Liz Aldrich, who specializes in the throws.

"We're especially proud of her for overcoming everything she's had to go through this winter."

Approximately last November, Hopson's mother, Bernadette, was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away only a few weeks later, causing Julia to opt out of the only home meet of the 2006-07 indoor season, the Mary Phillips Invitational, on Jan. 20.

In recent weeks, her throwing has never been better. She broke the school and SUNYAC indoor record last Saturday while winning the ECAC Division III championship with a toss of 16.62 meters. It was the first time in her life she threw over 16.10 meters.

At nationals Friday, he exceeded that distance on every throw she attempted, topping out at 16.50 meters, or approximately 54 feet. It moved her up one place from her seventh-place seed and into the All-American limelight.

"That throw (at ECACs last Saturday) was a big breakthrough for her," Swanson said.

Hopson joins a long list of Fredonia State track and field athletes who have earned All-American status, mostly among the men. She's also the second Blue Devil sophomore to become an All-American in as many days. Kelly Sponholz (Alden/Alden), competing in 1-meter springboard diving, finished third in the event Thursday at the NCAA Division III meet in Houston, Texas.

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For more information:

NCAA Division III track and field results

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