Hillsboro, Kan. - The Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference honored sixteen Lady Jays track and field athletes for their efforts this season, as they were named to the All-KCAC Teams.

Seniors Breanna Wray (Walsh, Colo.), and Estey Wichert (Buhler, Colo.), and juniors Christina Addison (Valley Center, Kan.), Jessica Burden (Little Elm, Texas), Tasia Johnson (Dallas, Texas), Kelli Kopper (Cimarron, Kan.), and Erin Vance (Concordia, Kan.), were named to the KCAC Women's Track and Field All-Conference Team.

Wray earned All-Conference honors as she placed first in the hammer throw and fifth in the shot put at the KCAC conference meet.

"No one has worked harder or been more dedicated to excellence than Breanna in the hammer," said Head Track and Field Coach Dave Kroeker."A five-time national meet qualifier, Breanna was finally rewarded with a conference title after three years of tough competition in her two college events. What a fitting way to end her last conference meet, with a gold medal. I was just so pleased that all her efforts finally paid off in a conference title."

Wichert earned All-Conference honors as she placed third in the hammer throw at the KCAC conference meet.

"Estey ended her college track career on a high note placing third in an event that she has worked hard to perfect since her freshman season four years ago," said Kroeker."A high school discus thrower, Estey is one of the few four-spin hammer throwers I have seen in competition and it paid off in some very nasty throwing conditions in the rain on Saturday.She has battled a bad back all season but dug deep to tough out several outstanding throws in her final college meet. She is the epitome of what it means to never give up and it was gratifying to see her have All-Conference type success in her senior conference meet."

Addison earned All-Conference honors as she placed third in both the 5,000 meters and the 10,000 meters at the KCAC conference meet.

"Christina just loves to run and this weekend she ran an unbelievable double in the 5K and the 10K with only the men's 5K in between," said Kroeker."She broke her own 5K record by almost 20 seconds (12.5 laps) and then with very little rest returned to the track for the 25 laps of the 10K. She volunteered to run the steeplechase, a race she had never run before which gave her 18,000 meters of running for the two day meet."

Burden earned All-Conference honors as she placed first in the 100 meter hurdles, second in the poll vault, and fourth in both the long jump, and 400 meter hurdles at the conference meet. She was also a member of the 4 x 100 meter relay team that placed first, and the 4x 400 meter relay team that placed second.

"Jessica has just had a great year in 2009," said Kroeker."After suffering through multiple stress fractures as a freshman and continuing injuries in 2008 she really has come on strong this season. Jessica scored in all six events she competed in over the weekend. I am so pleased to see her finally having the success that goes along with the hard work she has put in."

Johnson earned All-Conference honors as she placed second in both the long jump and triple jump, fourth in the high jump, and was part of the first place 4 x 100 meter relay team at the KCAC conference meet.

"Tasia really stepped up for the team at the KCAC meet competing in six events and scoring in four of them," said Kroeker. "She has just been jumping for the last two weeks and to see how well she did without much practice was fun to see."

Kopper earned All-Conference honors as she placed first in the 200 meters, second in the 400 meters, and was part of the 4 x 400 meter relay team that placed second, and the 4 x 800 meter relay team that placed third at the KCAC conference meet.

"After and injury-plagued frosh campaign and really just trying to get back into competitive running shape last year, it was so good to see her hard work and dedication pay off in a stellar junior season," said Kroeker."She broke the school record in the 400 meters after trying to qualify for nationals the day before and not quite getting there; and having to run a hard 800 meters to anchor the 4 x 800 relay team along with running in the prelims of the 200 meter dash.

"She ran six races on Friday and Saturday which is a lot to ask of anyone," added Kroeker."Her 200 meter gold was a surprise to a lot of people but Coach Christensen and I know she had good speed and it showed on Saturday. Kelli has been a strong team leader this entire season and she really did a great job in all respects at the KCAC Championships."

Vance earned All-Conference honors as she placed second in the 400 meter hurdles, and was part of the second place 4 x 800 meter relay team, and the second place 4 x 400 meter relay team.

"Erin is just a joy to be around and she has grown so much over the past three seasons of competition," said Kroeker."She came to Tabor as a 100 meter person and a long jumper and didn't have much success in either of those events so we were looking for a place where she could contribute. Always the consummate team person, Erin was talked into running the 100 meter hurdles and placed sixth at the end of her freshman year. That's what she focused on last year until we decided to try her in a longer race, the 400 meter hurdles and Saturday, was a culmination of three years of hard work and dedication. Always smiling, Erin came up big for the team in the two relays and ran a very strong race in the 400 meter hurdles."

Nine other Lady Jays track and Field athlete's earned Honorable Mention All-Conference honors for their performances at the KCAC conference meet, led by juniors Chelsea Malone (Ellinwood, Kan.), Jera Teselle (Downs, Kan.), and Sharae Wadel (Greensburg, Kan.), sophomores Julia Carlton (Hesston, Kan), Liz Kleinsasser (Lee's Summit, Mo.), and Megan McCarty (Hillsboro, Kan.), and freshman Kayla Gershon (Littleton, Colo.), Becca Liebe (Goddard, Kan.), and Sam Van Ranken (Medicine Lodge, Kan.).

"Julia was an important part of an All-KCAC 4 x 800 meter relay team and has also been a steady performer in the 3000 meter steeplechase," said Kroeker.

"Always positive and encouraging, Kayla brought needed depth and points to the 100 meter and 200 meter dashes," said Kroeker."She also ran the first leg on the conference champion 4 x 100 meter relay team."

"Liz sat out the entire season with knee problems and really stepped up to help the team by running the first leg of the 4 x 800 meter relay for us at conference," said Kroeker. "We are looking forward to her healthy return next spring and really missed her in the open 800 meters and 4 x 400 meter relay at the KCAC meet where she was part of two national qualifying teams last year and came in second in the 800 meters."

"Becca struggled with a sore back all season and really stepped up in the 400 meter hurdles, a grueling race and especially taxing on the back," said Kroeker."She also ran the third leg in the champion 4 x 100 meter relay and just did a great job."

"Late in the season, the triple jump looked like a place where we could score some points and after basketball injuries that kept her out of track the past two seasons, she stepped in and got needed points for the team in that event," said Kroeker."She also ran a strong leg on the second place 4 x 400 meter relay team."

"Megan set a personal record in the rain, in the hammer and really had a strong finish toher sophomore season," said Kroeker."She is such a hard worker and it was great to see her set a personal record at the KCAC meet."

"Jera was just really getting back into shape from a cross country injury and will be much stronger next season in her favorite race, the 10K," said Kroeker. "Every point counts in track and Jera worked hard all season to contribute her sixth place finish in the longest race on the track."

"As a freshman to come through with points in her first KCAC meet, I was very pleased with Sam's performances in the javelin and hammer," said Kroeker."She has worked very hard and I'm looking forward to three more years of improvements in both of her events."

"After a year away from hurdling, Sharae had a great year and finished really strong," said Kroeker."We are looking forward to even better performances next year."