Laura Pumphrey of East Hampton, Conn., Earns All-America Status, WPI Women's Winter Student-Athlete of the Week Accolades

2015 Mar 17

WPI senior Laura Pumphrey finished fifth to earn her second indoor All-America honor in the high jump on Saturday morning at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships, hosted by JDL Fast Track in Winston-Salem, N.C.

Overall, Pumphrey has collected three All-America nods over her career to tie former teammate Julie Eagle for the most in program history. The duo shared second place at the 2013 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Pumphrey, who was later named the WPI Women's Winter Student-Athlete of the Week, cleared 5-5 to end the competition in a three-way tie for fifth, her best indoor placing. The senior passed on 5-1 before making 5-3 and then 5-5 on her first try.

Gladys Njoku, who replaced Pumphrey at the top of the rankings during the regular season, won the event with a height of 5-7.75.

The WPI outdoor track and field season begins with the Coast Guard Invitational on March 28.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI is one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Perspective Program. There are more than 40 WPI project centers throughout the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific, and Europe.