MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Wittenberg juniors Taylor Weiss (Powell, Ohio/Olentangy Liberty) and Julissa Williams (Lorain, Ohio/Lorain) earned All-American status in the high jump to highlight Day 2 of the NCAA Division III Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championships for the Wittenberg women's track and field team on Friday. Weiss tied for seventh to become a First Team All-American, and Williams finished 11th to earn Second Team All-American recognition.

The Wittenberg women's track and field team now has three outdoor high jump All-Americans in program history, as Weiss and Williams joined Sheila Simon, who was a two-time All-American in the event in 1982 and 1983. The Tigers now have eight All-American accolades in program history, all of which have been in outdoor events.

Also on Friday, junior Meghan Frazier (Alliance, Ohio/Alliance) ran in the 400 meter prelims, finishing 21st.

The Basics

• Venue: Doug Shaw Memorial Stadium - Myrtle Beach, S.C.
• The women's high jump began at 1:30 p.m., and the women's 400 meter prelims were set for 5 p.m. in Friday's Day 2 of the three-day NCAA Championships meet.
• Weiss, Williams and Frazier are the Wittenberg women's track and field team's lone representatives in the national meet, making Friday the end of the Tigers' 2024 season.
• The top 22 declared student-athletes qualified for each event, and the top eight finishers in each event earn First Team All-American recognition. Places 9-16 earn Second Team All-American distinction.

Results - Women's high jump

• Weiss tied for seventh in the 22-woman field with a mark of 1.68 meters, and Williams finished 11th with the same height.
• Weiss cleared each of the first two heights, 1.58 and 1.63 meters, on her first attempt. She cleared the 1.68-meter bar on her second attempt and was unable to clear the 1.71-meter bar in three attempts.
• Williams cleared 1.58 meters on her second attempt and 1.63 meters on her first attempt. She cleared 1.68 meters on her third attempt and was unable to clear the 1.71-meter bar in three attempts.
• Weiss entered with a qualifying mark of 1.70 meters, which was tied for seventh in the field. Williams' qualifying mark was 1.69 meters, which was tied for 11th.
• Loras' Sara Hoskins was the national champion in the event, clearing 1.74 meters on her first attempt to win the tiebreaker over teammate Grace Alley after neither were able to clear 1.77 meters.

Above: Wittenberg junior Taylor Weiss (left) earned All-American honors in the high jump, tying for seventh with Wisconsin-Stout's Hannah Zastrow (right). | Photo by Rob Simmons, d3photography.com

Above: Wittenberg junior Julissa Williams competes in the high jump at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Friday. | Photo by Rob Simmons, d3photography.com

Results - Women's 400 meters prelims

• Frazier finished 21st overall in the 22-woman field with a time of 57.84 seconds.
• She ran in lane 8 in the second of the three heats.
• Eight runners (the winner of each of the three heats and the next five best times) advanced to the 400 meters final on Saturday.
• Frazier entered with a qualifying time of 55.82 seconds, which ranked 16th in the field and is a school record.
• Washington University's Emma Kelley posted the top overall time of 54.41 seconds. The time for the eighth and final qualifying spot was 55.91 seconds.

Above: Wittenberg junior Meghan Frazier races out of the starting block in lane 8 during the 400 meter prelims at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Myrtle Beach, S.C. on Friday. | Photo by Caleb Williams, d3photography.com

Quotes

• Junior Taylor Weiss on being a First Team All-American: "It still feels surreal. I am so proud of myself, and it feels great to have all of my hard work pay off! I just kept telling myself 'I am an All-American,' and it happened! I am also so proud of Julissa for her hard work and discipline this season."
• Junior Julissa Williams on her performance: "I put everything together and jumped really well with no nervousness and no doubt. I'm truly proud of myself. Perseverence no matter what."
• Junior Meghan Frazier on her performance: "Today's race was rough and definitely not a performance I am pleased with. That being said, I am proud of my season as a whole. This year, I transitioned from almost exclusively running the short sprints to running more 400s and qualifying for nationals in that race in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. I am excited to go into next year with two more school records under my belt, racing experience at the national level and a strong desire to return to nationals in the 400 and the short sprints next year."
• Head coach Paris Hilliard on Weiss and Williams: "These ladies have grown so much over the last three years on and off the track. I am extremely excited for both of them. Being able to bring home a First and Second Team All-American in the same event is an incredible achievement. Coach Lynch has done a fantastic job assisting these ladies' growth."
• Hilliard on Frazier's performance: "Obviously this was not the finish we wanted. With that being said, Meghan has had a phenomenal year. She has accomplished so many great things this year and overcame a lot of adversity. I am extremely proud of her, and I know she will be inspired to come back better next year."