Linnell wins steeplechase honors at nationals
Marlboro's Unachukwu breaks District 400 record
Allison Linnell capped her extraordinary track and field season by winning All-American honors at the Nike Outdoor Nationals (NON).

Linnell, fresh off her NJSIAA MOC title at 1,600 meters, finished fifth in the 2,000- meter steeplechase in Greensboro, N.C., on Saturday. The Cougar senior closed strongly, nabbing fifth place on the line in 6:56.72 (top eight finishers earn AA).

In preparing for the NON, Linnell went to the USATF-NJ Open at Monmouth University where she finished in first place and set a new state record for the 3,000 steeplechase, 11:20.46.

The All-American certificate was the latest in a number of accomplishments turned in by the Cougar this year. During the indoor season Linnell was fourth in the one-mile run at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York City, earning AA there. She also anchored the Cougars' 4x1-mile relay team to AA honors with a fourthplace finish. She was the State Group IV champion at 3,200 meters.

Outdoors, Linnell won her first MOC title and collected her third All-American selection of the year at the NON.

The University of Washington is getting one of the best runners in the country.

Marlboro's Ada Unachukwu also had a 2008 to remember. The Mustang junior, who earned indoor AA honors in the triple jump, competed in the triple and the 400-meter dash in Greensboro. She got off the second best triple jump of her career, 38-11¾ and finished 10th. This competition was extremely close. Unachukwu was less than a foot out of third place (39-9¼).

Throughout the outdoor season, Unachukwu continually broke her own Freehold District record in the 400 and she was at it again last weekend. In winning her heat, Unachukwu became the first area girl to run the 400 under 56 seconds, posting a 55.74.