Tri-C Shot Putter From Euclid Earns All-American Honors

Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C) shot putter Rashida Harris earned All-American honors in record-breaking fashion while competing at the NJCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Texas.

Harris placed third in the shot put with a throw of 50 feet, 1.75 inches, which set a new Tri-C record. The freshman from Euclid is the first shot putter at the College to surpass the 50-foot mark.

Earlier this year, Harris earned All-American honors in shot put at the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. She placed fifth at indoors with a throw of 48 feet, 1.25 inches.

“Rashida is unbelievably strong,” said Don Cox, the College’s longtime track coach. “When you add in the fact that she may be one of the most coachable athletes we’ve had at Tri-C, you understand why she’s so successful.”

Harris also placed 11th in discus at nationals with a personal-best throw of 134 feet, 6 inches.

Five other Tri-C student-athletes also competed at the outdoor championships, including:

• Karen Barrientos, a sophomore from Ashtabula, who placed 12th in the 5,000-meter run.
• Sara Leamer, a sophomore from Lordstown, who was 16th in the 400-meter hurdles.
• Maria Curren, a freshman from Marion, Ohio, who finished 24th in the 10,000-meter run.
• Amber Ruiz-Bueno, a freshman from Eastlake, who finished 26th in the 400-meter run.
• Aarionna Banks, a freshman from Parma Heights, who placed 27th in the 400-meter run.