A'veun Moore-Jones Earns Second-Team All-American Honors
03/12/2021 | 1:25:00 | Track and Field
FAYETEVILLE, Ark. – Senior thrower A'veun Moore-Jones earned her first career All-American honors with her 14th-place finish in the women's shot put at the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday.
Moore-Jones posted her best throw of 15.99m (52'-5.5") on her second attempt to become the first Saluki woman to earn indoor second-team All-American honors since Ashley Gaston did so in the same event back in 2015.
"This was A'veun's first NCAA National meet, so she was able to get her feet wet and get some good national experience," said SIU throws coach J.C. Lambert. "She went in ranked 15th and moved up a spot through her performance. It's always good to finish the meet ranked higher than what you came in at."
Moore-Jones started the competition with a toss of 15.74m (51'-7.75"), which was the 10th-best mark through the first round. After improving her mark in the second round, Moore-Jones fouled out on her third attempt, ending the day for the Mount Vernon, Ill., native.
"I'm glad to have representation at the national meet on day two," said Director of T&F/XC Rosalind Joseph. "Getting to this meet is an accomplishment in itself, but I'm proud of A'veun more for competing and giving herself a chance to be at this meet. It's good for growth and development of goals as we get headed into the outdoor season. We're really proud of her."
Ohio State's Adeliaida Aquilla took home gold in the event, as the junior connected on her best throw of 18.12m (59'-5.5") on her fourth attempt. Samantha Noenning - the nation's leader in the shot put ahead of the national meet – placed second with a top mark of 17.69m (58'-0.5").
On Friday, Shauniece O'Neal took home first-team All-American honors after finishing seventh in the women's weight throw. While her natural talent has a lot to do with the successes of her collegiate career, the Florissant, Mo., native gave a lot of credit to the work that Coach Lambert has done for the throwing group.
"Coach Lambert has always seen more potential in me than I see in myself," said O'Neal. "Back when he was recruiting me, he would tell me that I had the potential to be a great thrower, though I didn't really believe it myself. He showed me that I could attain any goal that I wanted if I worked hard enough. He's always gone to bat for me."
The praise for the kind of coach that Lambert is didn't stop with O'Neal, as Moore-Jones had a bit to say for herself.
"All of his lessons have made us better athletes and better people," said Moore-Jones. "I feel like I have the best coach in the nation. He's a phenomenal thrower who stopped his career to coach. That's a gift for us and an honor. I want to be able to continue his legacy."
To top it all off, Coach Joseph joined in to reflect on Lambert's work with Saluki throwers.
"I'm extremely proud of Coach Lambert and the work he's been doing with our throws core," said Coach Joseph. "He represents not only Saluki throws, but all of Saluki nation with pride. Their success is attributed to his dedication as a coach."
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Moore-Jones posted her best throw of 15.99m (52'-5.5") on her second attempt to become the first Saluki woman to earn indoor second-team All-American honors since Ashley Gaston did so in the same event back in 2015.
"This was A'veun's first NCAA National meet, so she was able to get her feet wet and get some good national experience," said SIU throws coach J.C. Lambert. "She went in ranked 15th and moved up a spot through her performance. It's always good to finish the meet ranked higher than what you came in at."
Moore-Jones started the competition with a toss of 15.74m (51'-7.75"), which was the 10th-best mark through the first round. After improving her mark in the second round, Moore-Jones fouled out on her third attempt, ending the day for the Mount Vernon, Ill., native.
"I'm glad to have representation at the national meet on day two," said Director of T&F/XC Rosalind Joseph. "Getting to this meet is an accomplishment in itself, but I'm proud of A'veun more for competing and giving herself a chance to be at this meet. It's good for growth and development of goals as we get headed into the outdoor season. We're really proud of her."
Ohio State's Adeliaida Aquilla took home gold in the event, as the junior connected on her best throw of 18.12m (59'-5.5") on her fourth attempt. Samantha Noenning - the nation's leader in the shot put ahead of the national meet – placed second with a top mark of 17.69m (58'-0.5").
On Friday, Shauniece O'Neal took home first-team All-American honors after finishing seventh in the women's weight throw. While her natural talent has a lot to do with the successes of her collegiate career, the Florissant, Mo., native gave a lot of credit to the work that Coach Lambert has done for the throwing group.
"Coach Lambert has always seen more potential in me than I see in myself," said O'Neal. "Back when he was recruiting me, he would tell me that I had the potential to be a great thrower, though I didn't really believe it myself. He showed me that I could attain any goal that I wanted if I worked hard enough. He's always gone to bat for me."
The praise for the kind of coach that Lambert is didn't stop with O'Neal, as Moore-Jones had a bit to say for herself.
"All of his lessons have made us better athletes and better people," said Moore-Jones. "I feel like I have the best coach in the nation. He's a phenomenal thrower who stopped his career to coach. That's a gift for us and an honor. I want to be able to continue his legacy."
To top it all off, Coach Joseph joined in to reflect on Lambert's work with Saluki throwers.
"I'm extremely proud of Coach Lambert and the work he's been doing with our throws core," said Coach Joseph. "He represents not only Saluki throws, but all of Saluki nation with pride. Their success is attributed to his dedication as a coach."
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