News 2021: UMass Dartmouth Student-Athlete Earns All-America Honors at 2021 NCAA Division III Championships

Sophomore Cameron Rodgers became first Corsair 400-meter hurdler to earn All-America honors after finishing third at 2021 Track & Field Championships

GREENSBORO, N.C. – University of Massachusetts Dartmouth sophomore Cameron Rodgers (Fall River, Mass.) became the first Corsair in program history to earn All-America honors in the 400-meter hurdles this afternoon, when he crossed the finish line in third place at the 2021 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Rodgers is the first hurdler in UMass Dartmouth program history to achieve All-America status since Jonathan Garcia won the 2007 national championship in the 110-meters. He is also the 39th Corsair men's track and field athlete to reach the national milestone.

Rodgers wasn't bogged down by the rain-soaked conditions on the Irwin Belk Track as he registered his second fastest time of the season, stopping the clock at 53.01 seconds. The Fall River, Mass. native held his position on the outside lane and entered the final turn among the lead pack of four runners. Trine sophomore Jake Gladieus posted a time of 52.57 seconds to capture the national championship, while Bethel (Minn.) junior Joel Smith earned national runner-up honors in 52.82 seconds. Rodgers accounted for all six team points for the Corsairs.

The start of the 400-meter hurdles briefly delayed by consecutive false starts and an eight-minute weather delay.

Rodgers entered the national championship field as the fourth seed in the 400-meter hurdles. The Little East Conference Rookie Track Athlete of the Year established a new Corsair program record at the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association (NEICAAA) Championships with a second-place time of 52.59 seconds. He qualified for the national finals by placing second in his preliminary heat with a time of 53.20 seconds on Thursday afternoon. Wartburg junior Dallas Wright was the top-seed with a time of 51.70 seconds, but tripped over the final hurdle.