Seven Vols Claim All-America Honors Wednesday At NCAA Championships

EUGENE, Ore. — Seven members of the Tennessee men's track & field program can call themselves 2021 outdoor All-Americans after the opening day of NCAA Championship competition at the University of Oregon's historic Hayward Field.

Redshirt sophomore Carey McLeod highlighted performances for the Big Orange with a third-place finish in the long jump, leaping 7.94 meters (26-0.75) on his fourth-round attempt to secure six points for UT. The Kingston, Jamaica, native becomes the fourth Vol in program history to earn All-America honors in the outdoor long jump and equaled the highest finish by a male Tennessee athlete in meet history (Jason Grimes - 3rd, 1981).

Kilkís, Greece, native Georgios Korakidis broke his own school record in the hammer throw, heaving a lifetime-best 69.45 meters (227-10) to place 16th on Wednesday. The redshirt junior became the second Vol to claim multiple All-America honors in the hammer throw, earning second team honors for the second time in his career.

Making his return to Eugene after an appearance at nationals in 2018, redshirt sophomore Jordan West took home second team All-America honors in the shot put on Wednesday. The UT school record holder launched the metal sphere 18.72 meters (61-5) to place 13th at the NCAA Championships. With a second-team nod in 2018, West becomes the first athlete in Tennessee history to earn multiple All-America distinctions in the men's shot put.

Tennessee wrapped up night one of the national meet with its men's 4x400-meter relay taking 13th place overall. The UT quartet of Rasheeme Griffith, Christopher Bailey, Emmanuel Bynum and Kameron Helmlinger combined for a time of 3:07.95 as each athlete received Second Team All-America acclaim.

HONORABLE MENTIONS: UT had three newcomers make their individual NCAA Championship debuts on Wednesday. Christopher Bailey suited up for the 400-meter dash (19th, 46.83), Alex Kay represented UT in the 800-meter run (23rd, 1:53.65) and Anthony Riley competed in the long jump (22nd, 7.22m / 23-8.25).

UP NEXT: Five Lady Vols will begin NCAA Championship competition on Thursday, beginning at 4 p.m. ET with Nayoka Clunis in the hammer throw and concluding with Maia McCoy running the 200-meter dash semifinal at 8:44 p.m. ET.

For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee track & field, follow @Vol_Track on Twitter and Instagram.

University of Tennessee | Official Athletics Site

Seven Vols Claim All-America Honors Wednesday At NCAA Championships

Players Mentioned

Christopher Bailey

Emmanuel Bynum

Nayoka Clunis

Rasheeme Griffith

Kameron Helmlinger

Alex Kay

Georgios Korakidis

Maia McCoy

Carey McLeod

Anthony Riley

Jordan West

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