Maryland track and field sprinter Micha Powell qualified for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after her performance at the Canadian Olympic Trails last weekend.
She will represent Canada in the 4×400 meter relay, the Canadian Olympic Committee announced Monday.
Powell starred for the Terps last year, qualifying for both the indoor and outdoor NCAA Championships. She set program records in the 400-meter dash during both the indoor and outdoor seasons.
She said her “heart stopped” when she found out via email she would represent her country this summer, according to an email from the athletic department.
“Having the opportunity to represent my beautiful homeland is a dream come true,” Powell said in a release. “It’s incredible to know that little Canadian girls and boys are going to be looking up to me and seeing me on TV, saying, ‘wow she’s at the Olympics maybe I’ll be there too someday.'”
“She has worked hard towards these goals and to see her progress over these past few years has been exciting,” coach Andrew Valmon added. “This will be a special moment for her and our staff is so proud to see her qualify.”
TERPS MAKE WATCH LISTS
Two Maryland football upperclassmen were named to defensive award watch lists this past week, according to releases.
Cornerback Will Likely was placed on the watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football. He was also tabbed for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Bednarik Award, which honor the best-overall defensive player in the nation.
Likely has been a first-team All-Big Ten member during the past two seasons. He registered 44 tackles, four of which were for a loss, and three forced fumbles. He also led the team with 11 pass breakups as a junior in 2015.
In addition, the cornerback led the country with 1,197 return yards last season.
Linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr., meanwhile, was named to the Butkus Award watch list. The honor, now in its 32nd year, is awarded annually to the nation’s best linebacker.
Carter started all 12 games last year and recorded 14 tackles for a loss, the most for a Maryland middle linebacker since E.J. Henderson in 2002. His 103 total tackles also led the team.
SHEPTOCK RETURNS
Maryland wrestling coach Kerry McCoy hired Jimmy Sheptock to join his staff as an assistant coach, according to a release Monday.
Sheptock, who was an assistant at Drexel for the past two seasons, was one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Terps history.
He was a two-time All American and three-time ACC Champion during his career in College Park. In the 2013-14 campaign, he finished with a 32-1 record and became the first Maryland wrestler to earn a No. 1 ranking.
McCoy said he hopes Sheptock, whom he once coached, can use his experience and energy to become “a great example for our guys.”
“[Sheptock] is one of the best wrestlers to ever put on a Terrapin uniform,” the veteran coach said in a release. “It’s exciting to bring a former Terp like Jimmy on board with our program.”
When Drexel traveled to College Park last December, Maryland honored Sheptock for his past contributions. He’s now back with the Terps, beginning a new chapter with the program.
“I’m excited to be back at Maryland and help out the program that gave me so much,” Sheptock said. “This is a fantastic opportunity for me and I want to thank Coach McCoy for bringing me back.”
