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New Mexico Highlands University Athletics

Athlete Awards

Athletes of the Week

Shanice McPherson

  • Award
    Athletes of the Week
  • Week Of
    4/29/2015
  • Sport
    Women's Track & Field
  • Bio
    View Full Bio
LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The ballots were cast, it was neck-and-neck, but sophomore Shanice McPherson was named the 2014-2015 Subway Student-Athlete of the Year. This was the first year of this award, sponsored by Subway Restaurants of Las Vegas and manager Regina DeNardo-Sena.
 
"There are numerous great athletes at New Mexico Highlands. I and the rest of the Subway family are so thrilled we were able to sponsor this award and to recognize 24 outstanding student-athletes," DeNardo-Sena said. "With her academic and athletic talents, Shanice is a true ambassador to not only New Mexico Highlands, but to the Las Vegas community as a whole.
 
"Congratulations to the Highlands athletes for an outstanding season. For the athletes still competing this school year, I wish them the best of luck. GO COWBOYS AND COWGIRLS!" Denardo-Sena added.
 
All it did for McPherson to be named Athlete of the Year was too simply break an NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field record and win a national championship. In late January, she broke the indoor long jump record with a mark of 6.49 meters. In fact, that distance is still 30th-best in the world. For her accomplishments that weekend, McPherson was named not only Subway Athlete of the Week (Feb. 2), but she was also named the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Female Division II Field Athlete of the Week (Feb. 3) and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Female Field Athlete of the Week.
 
"I am so proud for Shanice," said Head Track and Field Coach Bob DeVries. "She works really hard and is a very dedicated to becoming the best student AND athlete she can possibly be. A sophomore with two-straight NCAA championships in an event indoors is not very common.
 
"This is a much-deserved recognition for Shanice," added DeVries.
 
Her qualification for the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships in the long jump and 60 meters helped vault the Cowgirls to the top ranking in the country on March 3.
 
At the indoor championships, McPherson busted out of the gate for the lead after the first jump with a mark of 6.08 meters (19'11.5"). She climbed higher with every successive jump, going 6.09 meters (19'11.75") in her second leap, 6.22 meters (20'5") in her third try and an NCAA Division II Championship record leap of 6.38 meters (20'11.75") in her fourth attempt. McPherson passed on her final two possible attempts.
 
McPherson was so impressive, she would have been just a centimeter short of the title on her first jump, would have shared the title with her second leap and easily cleared the field with her third. She ended up winning the event by 29 centimeters (one foot) against Shakinah Brooks of St. Augustine and was the wire-to-wire leader in the win.
 
According to the USTFCCCA, Shanice was an All-American in two events: the long jump (First Team) and the 60 meters (Second Team).
 
In the outdoor season, she is currently ranked second in the nation in the long jump with a distance of 6.29 meters at the prestigious Mt. Sac Relays – finishing 0.17 meters behind the Bronze Medalist at the 2012 London Olympics.
 
McPherson and the rest of the Cowgirls will look for the first RMAC Track and Field Championship in school history this weekend (May 1-3) in Pueblo, Colorado.
 
 
Snapshot of Shanice McPherson's year
 
Jan. 30 – Broke NCAA Division II Indoor record in long jump (6.49 meters)
Feb. 2 – Subway Athlete of the Week
Feb. 3 – USTFCCCA National Female Division II Athlete of the Week
Feb. 4 – RMAC Indoor Track and Field Female Field Athlete of the Week
Feb. 27 – Wins RMAC Championship in long jump
Feb. 28 – Finishes RMAC Second Team in 60 and 200 meters
March 13 – NCAA Division II Indoor Championship in the long jump, earned Second Team All-American honors in the 60 meters.
April 22 – RMAC Outdoor Track and Field Female Field Athlete of the Week


Athlete Awards
Date Athlete Sport
11/10/2014 Raymond Tanui Men's Cross Country
11/3/2014 Anyssa Dagnino Women's Soccer
10/27/2014 Mallory Bostic Women's Soccer
10/20/2014 Zach Tapia Football
10/13/2014 Jared Koster Football
10/6/2014 Sarah Beecher Women's Soccer
9/29/2014 Jessica Piper Volleyball
9/22/2014 Tyler Slavin Football
9/15/2014 Anyssa Dagnino Women's Soccer
9/15/2014 Anyssa Dagnino Women's Soccer
9/8/2014 Jared Koster Football
9/8/2014 Jared Koster Football
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