June 10, 2011

Des Moines, Iowa - Cal State Fullerton senior Ciara Short placed fifth in the women's 400 meters Friday night at the 2011 NCAA Track and Field Championships at Drake University to earn All-American status.

Short was clocked in 52.35 seconds. She trailed champion Jessica Beard of Texas A&M (51.10), Joanna Atkins of Auburn (51.50), Diamond Dixon of Kansas (51.85) and Shelise Williams of Arkansas (51.94) but became the Titans' second female track and field All-American, joining distance runner Heather Killeen.

It's the highest individual finish by a Titan -- male or female -- at the nationals, besting Mike Tansley's sixth-place finish in the steeplechase in 1994.

Short, the two-time Big West Conference female track athlete of the year, scored 4 points, placing the Titans in a tie for 51st place.

Event Results