GAINESVILLE, Fla. – On a special Friday, Kellesse Heard became the second track and field All-American in College of Saint Mary history.

The sophomore from Sioux City, Iowa, entered the long jump prelims at the 45^th-annual NAIA Indoor Track & Field Championships tied for the 17^th seed based on her season-best jump. However, on her second jump of the day she soared a personal-best and program-record 5.71 meters (18 feet, 8¾ inches) to qualify eighth for the finals.

That stood as her best mark of the day at the Alachua County Sports & Events Center, and she maintained that eighth-place finish to become CSM's second track and field All-American, following teammate Claire Caspersen.

"A year ago at this very moment, Kellesse told me she'd like to try long jumping,'' CSM Track Coach Steve Gordon Jr. said. "A year later, she's an All-American. There are tons of ups and downs – good days, bad days – moments where we both question our decisions.

"But that's the thing: You don't create great moments. You stay consistent enough to lay the groundwork for great things to develop. That's what Kellesse has done – stayed steady. And now she's an All-American forever.''

Heard's other marks were 5.58 (18-3¾), 5.60 (18-4½) and 5.55 (18-2½). She fouled twice.

Until the GPAC Championships two weeks ago, she had never reached the 18-foot milestone. Heard's best mark on Friday actually tied Kerrishma Williams of William Carey (Miss.) University for seventh place, but Williams placed seventh due to a better second-best jump.

Also Friday, freshman teammate Mikaiya Rodgers placed 31^st in the same event with a best jump of 5.11 (16-9¼).