Completed Event: Track & Field versus NCAA Championships on June 12, 2025 ,
Final Score
Track & Field
vs NCAA Championships
Saturday, June 10
Austin, TX
All Day
University of Utah
vs
NCAA Championships
Photo Credit: Brendan Maloney
Venters, Plourde Close Out 2023 Campaign with First-Team All-America Honors
6/10/2023 10:33 PM | Track & Field
The Utah duo of Emily Venters and Simone Plourde finished in third and seventh, respectively, in the 5000m race.
AUSTIN – The 2022-23 Utah Athletics season came to a close Saturday night with Emily Venters (third) and Simone Plourde (seventh) of the track & field team garnering First-Team All-America honors at the 2023 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Saturday night inside Mike A. Myers Stadium.
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"I think the 5k in theese conditions pretty much sums up this year for those two," said head coach Kyle Kepler after the race. "They've been under immense pressure with all of their amazing performances throughout the season. So, to come here on the biggest stage and perform like that speaks to their abilities, their friendship and their love of what they are doing. To watch them and Dinedye support each other throughout the week was really special as well.
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"From all of our athletes, their families, to my staff, to our support staff, administration and our alums. I'm so grateful and proud for everyone associated with our program. It's a Great Day to be a Ute! Go Utes!"
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Both stayed with the lead group through 1800m to keep themselves in the hunt on a hot and windy championship Saturday. But, by the midway point, Florida's Parker Valby separated herself from the group and left the battle for second and third between Venters and UVU's Everlyn Kemboi. Meanwhile, Plourde did her best to keep pace with the next group of runners after the top-3 built a gap between them.
"I'm so grateful to be able to finish out this season with Simone by my side!" Venters said post race. "Not only is it special to be able to finish First-Team All-American together, but just the seasons we have had together. They've been more than either of us could've imagined! Nothing like getting to do big things at the highest level with your best friend there as well!"Â
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Venters would eventually cross the finish line at 15:42.40 for third-overall in the 5000m race for her second First-Team All-America distinction at the championships to bring her career-total to five – four of which are from the 2022-23 season. Venters' mark of 15:42.40 is the fastest time by any Woman of Utah in the 5k at the championships – passing Poppy Tank's time of 15:45.26 set back in 2021.
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Plourde crossed the finish line shortly after Venters with a mark of 15:50.10, good for seventh-overall and gave her a second All-America award for the weekend. The Montreal, Canada, product closed her season with three All-America honors – all of which were garnered this season.
"I gave it my all, it was really hard to deal with the heat especially in the 5k," said Plourde. "Disappointed with the outcome, but extremely proud of my season and the progress I've made this year! Excited to see what's next and race at Canadian nationals."
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Both Plourde and Venters became the seventh and eighth Woman of Utah to earn multiple All-America distinction at in the same championships in program history and became just the second Utah pair to do it in the same year since Jill Molen and Carla Pittlekow did it back in 1982 – the first year the NCAA Championships were held on the women's side.
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Kepler has now coached 10 student-athletes to 16 All-America honors in the outdoor season since taking over the program while the Utah program now has a total of 25 All-Americans honors for the outdoor season.
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For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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"I think the 5k in theese conditions pretty much sums up this year for those two," said head coach Kyle Kepler after the race. "They've been under immense pressure with all of their amazing performances throughout the season. So, to come here on the biggest stage and perform like that speaks to their abilities, their friendship and their love of what they are doing. To watch them and Dinedye support each other throughout the week was really special as well.
Â
"From all of our athletes, their families, to my staff, to our support staff, administration and our alums. I'm so grateful and proud for everyone associated with our program. It's a Great Day to be a Ute! Go Utes!"
Â
Both stayed with the lead group through 1800m to keep themselves in the hunt on a hot and windy championship Saturday. But, by the midway point, Florida's Parker Valby separated herself from the group and left the battle for second and third between Venters and UVU's Everlyn Kemboi. Meanwhile, Plourde did her best to keep pace with the next group of runners after the top-3 built a gap between them.
"I'm so grateful to be able to finish out this season with Simone by my side!" Venters said post race. "Not only is it special to be able to finish First-Team All-American together, but just the seasons we have had together. They've been more than either of us could've imagined! Nothing like getting to do big things at the highest level with your best friend there as well!"Â
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Venters would eventually cross the finish line at 15:42.40 for third-overall in the 5000m race for her second First-Team All-America distinction at the championships to bring her career-total to five – four of which are from the 2022-23 season. Venters' mark of 15:42.40 is the fastest time by any Woman of Utah in the 5k at the championships – passing Poppy Tank's time of 15:45.26 set back in 2021.
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Plourde crossed the finish line shortly after Venters with a mark of 15:50.10, good for seventh-overall and gave her a second All-America award for the weekend. The Montreal, Canada, product closed her season with three All-America honors – all of which were garnered this season.
"I gave it my all, it was really hard to deal with the heat especially in the 5k," said Plourde. "Disappointed with the outcome, but extremely proud of my season and the progress I've made this year! Excited to see what's next and race at Canadian nationals."
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Both Plourde and Venters became the seventh and eighth Woman of Utah to earn multiple All-America distinction at in the same championships in program history and became just the second Utah pair to do it in the same year since Jill Molen and Carla Pittlekow did it back in 1982 – the first year the NCAA Championships were held on the women's side.
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Kepler has now coached 10 student-athletes to 16 All-America honors in the outdoor season since taking over the program while the Utah program now has a total of 25 All-Americans honors for the outdoor season.
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For the latest news and information on the Utah cross country and track & field programs, fans can stay connected online at www.UtahUtes.com and on social media by following on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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