BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 9, 2019) – Senior Cowgirl jumper Ja'la Henderson added another prestigious accolade to her name at the 2019 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Indoor Championships. She placed 13^th in the triple jump with a final mark of 42 feet, 0.75 inches, here at the Birmingham Crossplex to earn second-team All-America honors.
 
"Today was not the best day for Ja'la," said UW jumps coach Quincy Howe. "The reality of the national meet for 99 percent of the competitors here is that you have to be at your absolute best on the day to get on the podium. With that being said, she did as she always does and competed with heart and left everything on the track. I am proud of the journey she has made, and even though we did not realize the ultimate goal, we are happy being a second-team All-American and finishing 13^th in the nation."
 
She is the 11^th Cowgirl to earn indoor All-America honors, and the first ever to do so in the triple jump. The last Cowgirl indoor All-American was Afiya Walker in the 400m dash in 2011. Her 13^th-place finish is also the best since Shauna Smith took sixth in the 400m dash in 2004.
 
"It's always a bitter pill to swallow in the moment, but perspective will surely coming during the trip back to 'Laradise' when the realization of being 13^th in the nation sinks in," Howe said.
 
Henderson sat in eighth place after her first jump, leaping 41-8.5 inches. On her second jump, she improved her distance to 42-0.75, but dropped to 10^th after jumpers who faulted on their first jump made legal marks.
 
Henderson's third jump was a fault, and she ended the competition in 13^th place to earn the third All-America accolade of her career. She was an All-American in both the long jump and triple jump during last year's outdoor season. Henderson's three All-America honors are tied for the third most among Cowgirls with Jessica Fox and Jesseca Cross. Shauna Smith and Robin Lyons each had five during their illustrious careers. Dana Dillon, with two All-America honors, is the only other Cowgirl with multiple All-America accolades.
 
The Pokes are back in action on Friday and Saturday, March 22-23, when they begin their outdoor season at the Fum McGraw Invitational hosted by Colorado State.