Delaware State University freshman Leslie Murray has earned All-America recognition after finishing sixth in the 400-meter hurdles at the 2009 NCAA National Track & Field Championships.

Murray was clocked at 49.91 seconds in the championship race of the NCAA 400-meter hurdles Friday evening at the University of Arkansas. Jeshua Anderson of Washington State finished first with a time of 48.47 seconds to capture his second straight NCAA championship. Kirkland Thornton of Nebraska was fifth (49.81), one-tenth of a second ahead of Murray.

A native of Beltsville, Md., and U.S. Virgin Islands, Murray set a DSU record in the 400 hurdles with a time of 49.83 seconds in the NCAA championship semi-finals on Thursday.

Murray, the 2009 MEAC Outdoor 400m Hurdle Champion,  is Delaware State’s first track & field All-America since the NCAA adopted its current championship format in 2000.

Murray’s sixth place finish in the 400-meter hurdle final also earned three points for Delaware State in the NCAA team standings, the first for the Hornets in the national championship competition.