Women's Pole Vault /
Men's Pole Vault
Greensboro, N.C. – Two Stockton University pole vaulters competed at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which are taking place at the Irwin Belk Track Complex on the campus of North Carolina A&T State University today through Saturday.
Lauren Preston (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) qualified for All-American status by placing fifth in the women's pole vault.
Keith Holland (Bayville/Central Regional) tied for ninth in the men's pole vault. Preston and Holland each were competing at an NCAA championship meet for the first time in their careers.
Preston finished fifth out of 19 entrants by clearing a personal-best height of 3.75 meters on her first attempt. Earlier, the junior got over the bar at 3.45 meters, 3.60 meters and 3.70 meters, each on her second try. The pole vault was won by Meghan Matheny of Ithaca College at 3.85 meters.
Preston qualified for the NCAA Championships by registering a vault of 3.72 meters at the All-Atlantic Region Championships just eight days ago. She entered the national meet tied for 13th in NCAA Division III and rose to the occasion with a personal-best vault of 3.75 meters to place fifth.
Holland tied for ninth by getting over the bar at the initial height of 4.60 meters. He was one of five vaulters in the field of 17 that bowed out after completing one successful vault during the steamy afternoon. Holland was part of a three-way tie for ninth by virtue of clearing 4.60 meters on his first attempt. Noah Zastrow of Wisconsin-Stout won at 5.10 meters.
Holland, a six-time NJAC champion in the pole vault (three indoor, three outdoor), entered the NCAA Championships tied for fifth in the nation with a school-record vault of 4.95 meters at the TCNJ Last Chance Meet on May 13. The junior missed out on All-American recognition, which goes to the top eight in each event, by one spot.
Hunter Daly (Florence/Florence) will compete in the men's high jump at the NCAA Championships tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.
