Wake Forest Athletics
Two Women Deacons Tabbed As Indoor Track All-Americans
3/13/2000 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track and Field
March 13, 2000
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - After sending five women's track athletes to the NCAA Indoor Championships this past weekend, Wake Forest boasts two indoor track All-Americans. Seniors Janelle Kraus and Jill Snyder were both earned All-American honors after their performances in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, AR last weekend.
Kraus, a senior from Shelter Island, NY placed 9th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 16:22. She finished the event as one of the top eight Americans, and earned All-American honors for the third time in her career. Kraus had previously been named to the All-American cross country squads in both 1997 and 1999. She qualified for the NCAA's at the ACC Championships, where she won her second consecutive 5,000 meter event. Kraus also set a new personal best in the race, bettering her previous career-best by 11 seconds.
Snyder was named to the All-American team for the second time in her career after a 10th place finish in the Mile Run. The senior from Lewisburg, PA clocked in at 4:54.02 and finished as one of the top eight Americans in that event. Prior to the NCAA Championships, Snyder boasted the second fastest time in the mile of any collegiate athlete in the nation. She is a two-time ACC Indoor Champion in the Mile, having won the individual title this season and in 1999. She was previously named an All-American a season ago in the 1,500 meter event.
"I was extremely happy. They put together great race plans and ran very maturely in the championships," said Wake Forest head coach Annie Bennett. "It's really one of the biggest honors you can have. It's certainly outstanding and shows that they have been one of the best in their field through their career. What it means to our program is that we can run in all three seasons and run them very well. We just worked them hard - we're just very strong and solid in our preparation."
Kraus and Snyder were also two of four Wake Forest runners to compete in the distance medley relay at the NCAA Championships. The Deacons placed 12th in that event with a time of 11:59.03.
