DATE: June 4, 2003

PRINCETON, WV - The University of Delaware has placed three women's track and field standouts on the Verizon/College Sports Information Directors of American All-District II Women's Track and Field/Cross County University Division first team.

Senior triple jumper Laura Dietrich, junior weight thrower Jessica Urbonas, and senior middle distance runner Erin Gemmill were all honored to the team and are now eligible for the national Academic All-American team. District II consists of all NCAA Division I schools in Delaware, Washington, DC, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. To be nominated for the Academic All-American team, a student-athlete must be at least a sophomore with a 3.2 or higher cumulative grade point index, and be a starter or key reserve for his team.

Delaware, Rice University, and the University of Wisconsin were the only schools in the nation to place three or more student-athletes on the All-District first team.

Dietrich, a senior from York, PA (Northeastern High School), earned eight letters during her career in indoor and outdoor track and field. A standout in the triple jump and long jump, she holds the Delaware school record in the indoor triple jump (37-feet, 1 3/4-inches) and owns the fourth best outdoor triple jump mark in school history (35-8).

A May graduate of Delaware, she won the triple jump competition at the Widener Indoor Invitational this past winter and highlighted the spring by placing eight in the triple jump at the Colonial Athletic Association championships in Richmond, VA in April. She also placed 10th in the triple jump at the CAA outdoor championships in 2002 and was 11th in the event at the 2001 America East indoor meet. She carries a 3.897 grade point index as a philosophy major with a minor in legal studies. She was also a member of the Arts and Humanities Scholars Program at Delaware.

Gemmill, a senior from Lancaster, PA (Penn Manor HS), was named the team Most Valuable Player in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field as she closed out her career with the Blue Hens with an outstanding 2002-03 campaign. She carries a 3.689 grade point index as an exercise physiology major and earned her degree last week.

A two-year standout for the Blue Hens after transferring from Lehigh University, Gemmill set five school records for the Blue Hens, setting marks indoors in the 800 meters (2:14.84) 4 x 400 meter relay (3:54.24), and sprint medley relay, and outdoors in the 4 x 400 meter relay (3:54.78) and 800 meters (2:15.84).

She led the UD cross country team in all eight meets in which she competed in 2002, including a 24th place finish at the Colonial Athletic Association championships, and four meet individual titles. She also captured 11 individual meet titles in indoor and outdoor track during her career and competed at the indoor ECAC championships in 2002, placing 19th in the mile and 20th in the 1,000 meters. She also placed fourth in 1,500 meters, fifth in 4 x 400 meter relay, and ninth in 800 meters at 2003 CAA outdoor championships.

Urbonas, a junior from Vernon, CT (Rockville HS), carries a 3.838 gpa as an animal science major. A co-captain, she was Delaware's top weight thrower during the season and placed fifth in javelin, seventh in discus, 10th in shot put, and 11th in hammer at CAA championships at George Mason this past April. She placed fifth in javelin, ninth in shot put, and ninth in discus at 2002 CAA outdoor championships and was fifth in javelin outdoors and sixth in shot put indoors at 2001 America East championships. She owns ninth best indoor shot put mark, the fifth best javelin distance, and the 10th best shot put mark outdoors in UD history.

AGATE:

2003 Verizon Academic All-District II Women's Track and Field/ Cross Country University Division Team:

Aderonke Adeniyi (Temple), Sarah Conway (Saint Joseph's); Laura Dietrich (Delaware); Natalie Dye (Maryland); Erin Gemmill (Delaware); Davina McKenzie (Seton Hall); Shea McMillan (Duquesne); Julie Siebert-Johnson (Pennsylvania); Lindsey Stefan (St. Francis); Jessica Urbonas (Delaware); Erin Walczak (St. Francis).