Quick Bio of Me… Andree Pickens
February 8, 2007 12:31 pm2007 Career Highlights - 6th at the 2007 USA Indoor Championships, 2nd at Drake Relays, 6th at Modesto Relays, 9th at the 2007 USA Outdoor Championships, 2007 NAPVA(North America Pole Vault Association) Grand Prix Champion
2006 Career Highlights - 8th at 2006 USA Indoor Championships, 5th at Drake Relays, Qualified to the 2006 USA Outdoor Championships
Former gymnastic sensation Andree’ Pickens joined the University of Alabama Women’s Track and Field team as a fifth year senior. After winning the 2002 NCAA Gymnastics Championships, Pickens closed out her gymnastics career by retiring her leotard. Pickens then assumed a new role with the gymnastics team as a student assistance coach, an aspect of gymnastics that she had become interested in. It wasn’t long after putting away her competitive nature that Pickens was turned on to pole vaulting. The 2-time NCAA champion picked up her first pole in the fall of 2002 becoming only the third female pole-vaulter at Alabama . After a season out on the track, Pickens claimed the University of Alabama ’s Indoor and Outdoor pole vault record. Pickens qualified to the NCAA Regional Championships held in Ohio , where she placed ninth overall to finish up season. Recognized as one of Alabama’s most decorated athletes, Pickens has decided to pursue a post collegiate career in pole vaulting while obtaining her Master’s in Health Studies at the University of Alabama. “She caught the vaulting bug” said Coach Fowler the University of Alabama Head Women ’s Track and Field Coach. Coached by Sidney Cartwright, Pickens has made remarkable strides within her first year in the sport and is looking forward to accomplishing big things in the near future.
2006 - Pole Vault Unlimited (4.20m / 13-9)… Gill Athletics (4.10m / 13-6)… Grand Haven Beach Vault (4.10m / 13-6)… Three Rivers Festival Street Vault (4.05m / 13-3)… St. Charles River Vault (4.10m / 13-6)… 2nd at Bell Athletics Summer Series (4.27m / 14-0)… 5th at Drake Relays (4.11m / 13-6)… 2nd at Alabama Relays (4.00m /13-1)… 7th at USA Indoor Championship (4.10m / 13-5)… 2nd at Bell Athletics February Series (4.22m / 13-10)… 2nd at Hoosier Relays (4.11m / 13-6)… 1st at Wildcat Invitational (4.05m / 13-3)… ASU Kick Off Classic (3.95m / 12-11)
2005 - Pickens was hired as the assistant gymnastics coach at Southeast Missouri State University to take on the duties of recruiting coordinator, balance beam coach and floor choreographer. Pickens experience helped bring this Division I Gymnastics Team at Southeast Missouri State University to the next level. Pickens also took the opportunity in her spare time to continue her pole vault training with Coach Radamaker, the former pole vault coach at Southeast Missouri State University. Pickens also volunteered her time to the university’s track team’s pole vaulting squad.
2004 - Georgia Tech Invitational (12-3)… Clemson Orange & Purple Classic (3.75m / 12-4)… Sea Rays Relays (3.50m / 11-5.75)… Kentucky Invitational (3.81m / 12-6)
2003 - 8th at NCAA Regionals (3.82m / 12-6.25)… SEC Championships (3.51m / 11-6.25)… Drake Relays (3.66m / 12-0)… LSU Invitational (3.81m / 12-6)… Sea Rays Relays (3.41m / 11-2.25)… Alabama Relays (3.51m / 11-6.25)… Adidas Classic (/ 10-9)… SEC Challenge 2.80m / 9′2.25)
Gymnastics:
2002 - NCAA Top Eight Award winner… Honda-Broderick Award for Gymnastics… NCAA women of the Year for the state of Alabama … NCAA Uneven Bar Champion… Scholastic All-American… AAI American Award… Only gymnast in NCAA history to earn five All-American title in two different season… Finished first in the all-around at the NCAA Super Six… NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship Finalist… NCAA Region 4 Gymnast of the Year… SEC Female Athlete of the Year… SEC Community Service Award… SEC Gymnast of the Year… Academic All-SEC… All-SEC (first SEC gymnast in league history to earn four individual titles in the same year)… Set school record in the All-Around, 39.850… Alabama ’s Student Athlete Advisory Board President… One of five honorable mentions for “Glamour” magazine’s “Top-10 College Women”… Runner up in Homecoming Court
2001 - Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Year… NCAA Region 4 Gymnast of the Year… All-Southeastern Conference… Named Alabama ’s “Most Valuable Gymnast” & Team Captain… Earned the Tide’s “Lewis Each Courage Award”… Invited to the NCAA Foundation Leadership Conference… Academic All-SEC
2000 - Earned 4 All-American honors for the all-around, vault and uneven bars… Finished third in the all-around at the NCAA Super 6… SEC Gymnast of the Year… Named NCAA Region 4 Gymnast of the Year… Earned All-SEC honors… Earned the Sington Soaring Spirit trophy as the best amateur athlete in the state of Alabama … Academic All-SEC
1999 - NCAA Balance Beam Champion … SEC Freshman of the Year… NCAA Region 4 Gymnast of the Year… Honda Award Finalist… Finished first in the all-around at the NCAA Super-Six… First freshman gymnast in NCAA history to earn five All-American honors in one season
1996 - U.S. Olympic Trials-Gymnastics, Boston, Mass.; 12th-AA… Australian Cup, Adelaide, South Australia, 3rd-AA, 2nd-V & UB… McDonald’s American Cup, Ft. Worth, Texas; 8th-AA (prelims.), 2nd(t)-V, 4th-UB… McDonald’s International Gymnastics Championships, Atlanta, Ga.; 6th (with Jair Lynch and Lauri Illy)… Coca-Cola National Championships, Knoxville, Tenn.; Compulsories only… U.S. Classic, Colorado Springs, Colo.; 4th-AA, 2nd-V, 4th-UB, 8th-BB… American Classic/World Championships Trials, Tulsa, Okla.; 6th-AA
1995 - World Championships, Sabae, Japan; 3rd-Team… World Team Trials, Austin, Texas; 10th-AA… Coca-Cola National Championships, New Orleans, La.; 12th-AA… U.S. Classic, Birmingham, Ala.; 3rd-AA & FX, 7th-V, 5th-UB, 4th-BB
1994 - Jr. Pan American Cup, Monterrey, Mexico; 1st-Team, AA, UB & FX, 2nd-V, 3rd-BB… U.S. Olympic Festival, St. Louis, Mo.; 14th-AA, 3rd-Team, 3rd-UB… Coca-Cola National Championships, Nashville, Tenn.; 6th-AA, 3rd-V (junior division)… U.S. Classic, Palm Springs, Calif.; 5th-AA (junior division)… American Classic/World Championships Trials, Orlando, Fla.; 11th-AA (junior division)1993 - Coca-Cola National Championships, Salt Lake City, Utah; 11th-AA (junior division)… 1993 Level 9 Nationals Champions
Categories: Bio / Highlights
2 Responses to “Quick Bio of Me… Andree Pickens”
Hi Andree’
Your site is great and inspiring! I’ve been meaning to tell you that for a while! Keep up the good work and know that the Lord will direct your path, whether running down the track or flyin’ through the air, depend on Him (but you gotta do your part also). Rashida & I are praying for you to make that perfect jump. Be blessed!
Your site is very inspiring. I’m proud of you!
Kisha
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