Linnen Wins National Championship in Pole Vault
March 12, 2005
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. –
Senior pole vaulter Amy Linnen won the NCAA Indoor Championship today with a new <?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas record of 14-01.25. Linnen, who is no stranger to success, broke the NCAA record in 2002 at the NCAA meet with a mark of 14-08.50 when she was a member of the Arizona track team.
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“We are excited that we have an NCAA champion at the University of Kansas,” Kansas head coach Stanley Redwine said. “Amy came into the meet ready to compete and win and that is what she did today.”
“I am extremely excited for Amy and the University of Kansas,” Redwine added.
Two other Jayhawks earned All-America accolades with their performances Saturday.
Senior Jeremy Mims and junior Sheldon Battle each scored points for KU and gained All-American status. Mims finished seventh in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:48.28, while Battle placed seventh in the shot put with a toss of 63-00.25.
Senior Brookly Hann rounded out her stellar indoor career with a 10th place finish in the triple jump. Hann, who holds the KU record in the event, jumped 42-06.00.
Freshman pole vaulter Ekaterina Sultanova placed 10th in the event with a vault of 13-01.50.
“We had some really good performances this weekend even though we had a few competitors that would have liked to finish higher,” Redwine added. “This is the NCAA tournament and you have to step up your game and I feel our athletes did that.”
With the indoor season officially over, the Jayhawks will now focus on the outdoor season. Kansas is schedule to compete in the ESU Twilight meet on Thursday, March 17.
