USTFCCCA Release

NEW ORLEANS - Juniors Ayana Blair (Wheeling, Ill.-Wheeling) and Cora Wilkinson (Verona, Ill.-Seneca Township) of the Illinois Wesleyan University women's track and field team have been named All-Americans by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA), the organization announced Tuesday, May 19. Due to the cancellation of the NCAA Track and Field Championships, the USTFCCCA Board adjusted the selection criteria for each Division.

The Titans streak of student-athletes earning All-American honors now sits at 21 straight seasons, beginning in 1999. Additionally, IWU has seen student-athletes garner All-American status in 23 of the past 24 seasons.

Blair garnered All-America honors in both the shot put and weight throw events, with her season-bests slotted as the NCAA's 17th-seed in the shot put with a season-best distance of 44' 9.5", set at the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Championships, Feb. 29, and the 19th-seed in the weight throw, posting a distance of 55' 11.75" at the Monmouth Fighting Scots Invitational, Feb. 15. Blair, who earned All-CCIW honors in both the shot put and weight throw, is now the IWU school record holder in shot put.

Wilkinson was the 14th-seed in the long jump event, with her season-best jump of 18' 5.75" coming at the Friday Night Lights dual against Millikin, Feb. 21.

Blair and Wilkinson, along with 13 other letterwinners are set to return for the Titans in 2021.