Lion freshman George Sheppard got his best performance of the season to take the silver medal in the long jump at the 38th annual NCAA Division II Men’s Track and Field Championships on May 26 in Raleigh, N.C.

Sheppard, a 6-6 freshman from Alba-Golden, posted his career-best of 24 feet, 7 3/4 inches (7.51 meters) in his first championship appearance to place second behind St. Augustine’s (N.C.) sophomore Dane Maglorie who grabbed the gold with a jump of 24-8 1/4.

The only Lion to compete at the NCAA’s this year, he bettered his previous season-best of 24-5 by nearly two inches. He also topped his previous personal record of 24-7 1/4 by a half an inch.

Sheppard earns All-America honors with the silver after entering the competition as the final qualifier in the 13 man field at the Paul Derr Track on the North Carolina State campus.

The Lion men and women each finished fifth at the Lone Star Conference Championships on April 24.

Sheppard won the long jump at the LSC meet at 24-5 for the only men’s medal.

Lion junior Stephanie Reyes of Bellville won the 1,500 meters at the LSC with a time of 4:46.87, eight seconds ahead of her nearest competitor.

Senior Laurie Foster of Trenton/Whitewright placed second in the javelin with a throw of 132-5, with sophomore Amanda Haertner of Karnes City took third in the 3,000 meters with a time of 11:19.35.