DATE: June 9, 2004

JEFFERSON CITY, TN -- University of Delaware senior co-captains Tyechia Smith and Jessica Urbonas have been named to the Verizon/College Sports Information Directors of America 2004 Academic All-District 2 Women's Track and Field/Cross Country first team.

Smith, a senior sprinter and hurdler from Jersey City, NJ (McNair Academic HS), and Urbonas, a senior weight thrower from Vernon, CT (Rockville), were selected from a vote of NCAA member sports information directors. Both are now eligible for the national ballot. Delaware and Duquesne, which placed three student-athletes on the team, were the only schools with multiple selections.

To be eligible, student athletes must have at least sophomore class standing, carry a 3.2 or better grade point index, and be a starter or key contributor to their team. District 2 includes all NCAA Division I schools in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, and Washington, DC.

Senior co-captains Jessica Urbonas (left) and Tyechia Smith (right)

Smith earned eight letters in indoor and outdoor track and field for Delaware and holds eight school records, including indoor marks in the 400 meters (56.83), 500 meters (1:15.70), and 4 x 400 meter relay (3:50.27), and outdoor marks in the 400 meters (57.04), 4 x 100 meter relay (47.17), 4 x 200 meter relay (1:43.20), 4 x 400 meter relay (3:50.16), and sprint medley relay (4:04.37). She ranks in the top 10 in five other events at Delaware.

She has won six career meet titles and this past spring placed fifth in the 400 meters and fourth in the 4 x 100 meter relay at the Colonial Athletic Association championships. She has four other top nine finishes at the CAA outdoor meet during her career in the 400 meters, 400 meter hurdles, and relay events. She earned her degree in behavior management major with a concentration in sport management and a minor in coaching science in May and carried a 3.642 grade point index. She will attend graduate school at the University of Central Florida next fall and major in business administration and business sports management.

Urbonas earned first team Verizon/CoSIDA honors for the second straight year, capping an outstanding senior season as one of the team's most consistent weight throwers under head coach Sue McGrath-Powell. A four-time letterwinner and two-year captain, Urbonas had the team's second best mark in the shot put (38-3 3/4) and weight throw (41-9 1/4) during the indoor season and placed eighth in the javelin, 11th in the discus, 12th in the shot put, and 12th in the hammer at the CAA outdoor championships in April. She posted nine career top 10 finishes at the CAA meet during her career, including three fifth place finishes in the javelin. She ranks No. 5 all-time at Delaware in the javelin (124-0), No. 6 in the outdoor shot put (38-3 1/4), and No. 9 in the indoor shot put (38-3 1/4).

She carries a 3.87 grade point index as an animal science major and this past spring earned the University of Delaware's ECAC Medal of Merit as the senior female letterwinner with the highest grade point average.

In addition to Smith and Urbonas, also named to the first team were Natalie Bosserman of Lafayette, Melissa Stewart, Shea McMillan, and Sarah Fetterman of Duquesne, Emily Jadwin of George Washington, Kate Johnston of Penn State, Davina McKenzie of Seton Hall, and Lindsey Stefan of St. Francis (PA).