March 7, 2013

<="" href="http://www.umterps.com/sports/c-track/spec-rel/030413aaa.html?DB_OEM_ID=29700">LaFond, Melville Qualify for NCAA Championships

NEW ORLEANS - Sophomore Thea LaFond has been named the USTFCCCA Mid-Atlantic Field Athlete of the Year for the 2013 NCAA Division I indoor women's track & field season.

LaFond, one of nine recipients chosen nationally from different regions, will receive her award at the NCAA banquet Thursday night and is slated to compete in NCAA Championship action this weekend in the pentathlon.

A native of Silver Spring, Md., LaFond took home gold in the pentathlon with a score of 4,111 at the ACC Championships - a mark that ranks sixth among all collegians in 2013.

She also placed fourth in the triple jump and the high jump. Her 18.5 points at the ACC Championships helped lead the Terrapins to a fifth-place finish.

LaFond now holds four different places in the top eight of Maryland history for indoor track. She holds the second-best distance for the triple jump (42-04.00) and also the second-best score in the pentathlon (4,111). Additionally, she ranks seventh in Maryland history in the 60-meter hurdles (8.69) and tied for eighth in the long jump (5-08.75).