Jan. 22, 2009

Seniors Marisa Ryan and Tahari James were named MVPs of the 2007-08 Boston University women's track and field teams. Both earned All-America honors in both the indoor and outdoor seasons, marking the first time in BU history that two women have done that in the same year.

At the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in June, Ryan finished fourth in the 10,000m run with a 33:54.38 time while James' 13.30m mark in the triple jump finals clinched ninth place. James' distance of 13.68m in the preliminaries set a new school record and qualified the senior for the Olympic trials.

Ryan also earned All-America status during the indoor season, running a 9:12.83 time in the 3,000m for fifth place. James' 13.42m distance in the triple jump took sixth place at indoors.

They were the first Terriers to take All-America honors in both the indoor and outdoor seasons since Christine Stief achieved the feat in 1995.

The senior duo was instrumental in helping the Terrier women claim their third straight America East indoor team title in addition to their first outdoor title since 1993.