University of North Carolina Ashville Athletics
Pearson and Gentry Named to Big South’s Women’s Outdoor Track & Field All-Decade Team
06.22.2020 | Track and Field
CHARLOTTE – The Big South Conference announced today that former Bulldog greats Natalie Pearson and Sarah Gentry were named to the 2010-19 Women's Outdoor Track & Field All-Decade Team presented by Hercules Tires.
Pearson put together a decorated career with the Bulldogs as she earned All-American honors, was a three-time conference champion, and a six-time All-Big South selection during her collegiate career. Additionally, she was a two-time NCAA Championships qualifier and former Big South Conference Athlete of the Year. In addition to her time with the Bulldogs, Pearson also participated in the British Olympic trials in 2008 and 2012.
Gentry, meanwhile, also had a stellar career during her time in Asheville. Gentry was a three-time Big South Conference Champion and a four-time All-Big South performer. Additionally, Gentry ranks in the top five all-time in program history in five different events.
A 15-person committee of Big South Conference administrators served as the official voting panel to determine the All-Decade Team, with fan voting comprising 20 percent of the overall total. The 2010-19 Women's Outdoor Track & Field All-Decade Team is listed below in alphabetical order by event and features eight sprinters/hurdlers, eight distance/mid-distance runners, eight jumpers, eight throwers, two heptathletes and one head coach. In case of ties, additional honorees have been added.
Women's Outdoor Track & Field All-Decade Team candidates were determined based on being at least one of the following: 1) Was a multi-year All-Conference honoree in one or more event; 2) Was named an All-American; 3) Is a member of the Big South Conference Hall of Fame; 4) Student-athletes must be a college graduate or in good academic standing with their respective institution; 5) Won a Conference Championship as a coach and/or was voted Conference Coach of the Year. Candidates that participated in two different decades were placed in a specific decade based on consultation from member institutions. Member institutions also had final determination in regards to inclusion of student-athletes and coaches. Previous Women's Outdoor Track & Field All-Decade Teams were recognized for the years 1994-99 and 2000-09.
Pearson put together a decorated career with the Bulldogs as she earned All-American honors, was a three-time conference champion, and a six-time All-Big South selection during her collegiate career. Additionally, she was a two-time NCAA Championships qualifier and former Big South Conference Athlete of the Year. In addition to her time with the Bulldogs, Pearson also participated in the British Olympic trials in 2008 and 2012.
Gentry, meanwhile, also had a stellar career during her time in Asheville. Gentry was a three-time Big South Conference Champion and a four-time All-Big South performer. Additionally, Gentry ranks in the top five all-time in program history in five different events.
A 15-person committee of Big South Conference administrators served as the official voting panel to determine the All-Decade Team, with fan voting comprising 20 percent of the overall total. The 2010-19 Women's Outdoor Track & Field All-Decade Team is listed below in alphabetical order by event and features eight sprinters/hurdlers, eight distance/mid-distance runners, eight jumpers, eight throwers, two heptathletes and one head coach. In case of ties, additional honorees have been added.
2010-19 WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD ALL-DECADE TEAM PRESENTED BY HERCULES TIRES
Sprints/Hurdles – Name, School Notables
Abigail Flower, Liberty 3-time Champion, 11-time All-Conference
Manika Gamble, High Point 4-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Jessica Gelibert, Coastal Carolina 5-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Gabrielle Houston, Charleston Southern 2-time All-American, 4-time Champion, 9-time All-Conference
Mulern Jean, Charleston Southern 3-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Lilla Juhasz, Campbell 3-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Erica Peake, Coastal Carolina 6-time Champion, 10-time All-Conference
Natalie Pearson, UNC Asheville All-American, 3-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Jasmine Pilgrim, Charleston Southern 4x100m Champion, 11-time All-Conference
Latesha Simpson, Coastal Carolina 6-time Champion, 9-time All-Conference
Distance/Mid-Distance – Name, School Notables
Zoe Geis, High Point 10,000m Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Sarah Gentry, UNC Asheville 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Famke Heinst, High Point 6-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Jennifer Klugh, Liberty 3-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Joan Maritim, Campbell 2-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Natalia Ocasio, High Point 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Letitia Saayman, Coastal Carolina 4-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Jeanne Stroud, Winthrop 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Teresa Williamson, Radford 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Jumps – Name, School Notables
Mia Aghaji, Liberty 5-time Champion, 8-time All-Conference
Sabina Allen, Campbell All-American, 6-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Christina Fenske, High Point 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Kierra Gabe, Coastal Carolina Long jump Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Jill Marois, High Point 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Shenelle Mckay, Campbell High jump Champion, 9-time All-Conference
Elise Moffatt, Gardner-Webb 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Latesha Simpson, Coastal Carolina 5-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Throws – Name, School Notables
Ashlei Alexander, Gardner-Webb Shot put Champion, 5-time All-Conference
Natasha Akbarizadeh, Gardner-Webb 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Marthaline Cooper, Winthrop 2-time All-American, 3-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Mychelle Cumings, Liberty 6-time Champion, 8-time All-Conference
Deborah Mattern, Coastal Carolina 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Christine Rickert, High Point All-American, 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Aimee Veatch, Radford 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Jocelyn Williams, Liberty All-American, 3-time All-Conference
Heptathletes – Name, School Notables
Kristen Hurley, Gardner-Webb 4-time All-Conference
Erika Jackson, Liberty 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Christina Mitchell, Liberty 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Head Coach, School Notables
Brant Tolsma, Liberty 6 Championships, 6-time Coach of the Year
Sprints/Hurdles – Name, School Notables
Abigail Flower, Liberty 3-time Champion, 11-time All-Conference
Manika Gamble, High Point 4-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Jessica Gelibert, Coastal Carolina 5-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Gabrielle Houston, Charleston Southern 2-time All-American, 4-time Champion, 9-time All-Conference
Mulern Jean, Charleston Southern 3-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Lilla Juhasz, Campbell 3-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Erica Peake, Coastal Carolina 6-time Champion, 10-time All-Conference
Natalie Pearson, UNC Asheville All-American, 3-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Jasmine Pilgrim, Charleston Southern 4x100m Champion, 11-time All-Conference
Latesha Simpson, Coastal Carolina 6-time Champion, 9-time All-Conference
Distance/Mid-Distance – Name, School Notables
Zoe Geis, High Point 10,000m Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Sarah Gentry, UNC Asheville 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Famke Heinst, High Point 6-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Jennifer Klugh, Liberty 3-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Joan Maritim, Campbell 2-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Natalia Ocasio, High Point 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Letitia Saayman, Coastal Carolina 4-time Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Jeanne Stroud, Winthrop 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Teresa Williamson, Radford 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Jumps – Name, School Notables
Mia Aghaji, Liberty 5-time Champion, 8-time All-Conference
Sabina Allen, Campbell All-American, 6-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Christina Fenske, High Point 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Kierra Gabe, Coastal Carolina Long jump Champion, 6-time All-Conference
Jill Marois, High Point 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Shenelle Mckay, Campbell High jump Champion, 9-time All-Conference
Elise Moffatt, Gardner-Webb 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Latesha Simpson, Coastal Carolina 5-time Champion, 7-time All-Conference
Throws – Name, School Notables
Ashlei Alexander, Gardner-Webb Shot put Champion, 5-time All-Conference
Natasha Akbarizadeh, Gardner-Webb 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Marthaline Cooper, Winthrop 2-time All-American, 3-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Mychelle Cumings, Liberty 6-time Champion, 8-time All-Conference
Deborah Mattern, Coastal Carolina 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Christine Rickert, High Point All-American, 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Aimee Veatch, Radford 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Jocelyn Williams, Liberty All-American, 3-time All-Conference
Heptathletes – Name, School Notables
Kristen Hurley, Gardner-Webb 4-time All-Conference
Erika Jackson, Liberty 2-time Champion, 3-time All-Conference
Christina Mitchell, Liberty 3-time Champion, 4-time All-Conference
Head Coach, School Notables
Brant Tolsma, Liberty 6 Championships, 6-time Coach of the Year
Women's Outdoor Track & Field All-Decade Team candidates were determined based on being at least one of the following: 1) Was a multi-year All-Conference honoree in one or more event; 2) Was named an All-American; 3) Is a member of the Big South Conference Hall of Fame; 4) Student-athletes must be a college graduate or in good academic standing with their respective institution; 5) Won a Conference Championship as a coach and/or was voted Conference Coach of the Year. Candidates that participated in two different decades were placed in a specific decade based on consultation from member institutions. Member institutions also had final determination in regards to inclusion of student-athletes and coaches. Previous Women's Outdoor Track & Field All-Decade Teams were recognized for the years 1994-99 and 2000-09.
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