Jordan Scott Wins NCAA Pole Vault Title
June 11, 2010
Scott Wins NCAA Pole Vault Title
Stowe Qualifies for 3000m Steeplechase Finals
Bonds Advances to 1500m Run Final
EUGENE, Ore. –
Kansas junior Jordan Scott captured his first NCAA title after winning the pole vault here Thursday evening at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Scott was crowned champion with his height of 5.40 meters (17-08.50 ft.) at historic Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon.
“I have been after an NCAA title since my freshman year so to finally get that is amazing. It still has completely sunk in, but tomorrow when I get my award and get to take my victory lap that will be when I get really excited.”
Scott waited nearly five hours to claim his first national championship as he battled inclement weather, technical errors and passing on the opening two heights.
“This feels phenomenal considering what all went down today,” said Scott, a native of Watkinsville, Ga. “We battled a headwind, rain and issues with the bar. It was a long day. To win under all these conditions shows how hard I have been training. I have been doing a lot of mental training and that really helped today.”
The bar opened at 5.00 meters (16-04.75 ft.) and once competitors clearing that height advanced, the board read that the next height would be 5.15 meters (16-10.75 ft.). However, an error was made as the bar never actually moved up to 5.15 meters, so several participants were forced to vault again.
Scott had not entered the contest yet, so he was not directly affected, but it made his wait to get his first jump in that much longer.
Intermittent rain showers throughout the afternoon then forced an inclement weather delay just as Scott was getting warmed up. After easily clearing his opening height of 5.30 meters (17-04.50 ft.) on his first attempt, Scott was forced to head to shelter with the rest of his competitors to wait out the rain.
After nearly an hour delay, the pole vault was restarted. Scott again easily cleared the bar on his first attempt at 5.40 meters to claim the title. He and Josh Domingues of LSU were the only two vaulters left when the bar was raised to 5.45 meters and neither athlete was able to clear the bar. Scott won the competition as he had not recorded a miss on any of his previous heights.
Scott’s NCAA title is the first outdoor national title for a Jayhawk since Leo Bookman was the 200 meters champion in 2003. It also marks Scott’s first outdoor All-America honor and his third overall All-America honor.
Two KU women’s team members advanced to the finals in their respective events as senior Lauren Bonds and sophomore Rebeka Stowe were qualifiers out of their heats.
Bonds finished fifth in her heat in the 1,500 meters to advance to Saturday’s championship round. She spent the majority of her race about 10 meters behind the pack of leaders and upon attempting to make a move to the front with about 800 meters to go, a runner directly in front of Bonds stumbled forcing her to make some major adjustments.
After collecting herself, Bonds was able to maneuver into the thick of the race and eventually claimed fifth place with her new personal best and KU record time of 4:14.29.
“The only goal running in prelims is to make it to the finals,” said Bonds, who hails from Hutchinson, Kan. “I also set a new personal best and school record so that was exciting. I was not expecting to do that. I don’t think I raced all that well, but my objective was to qualify for finals and I did manage to do that.”
Stowe ran another strong race as she took fourth place in her heat of the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The Olathe, Kan., native turned in a time of 10:09.05 to advance to Saturday’s finals. Stowe was in the pack of leaders in her heat throughout the race and finished strong down the stretch, just narrowly getting edged for third place.
“Today was all about survive and advance,” said Stowe. “I wanted to make it through and be in the top six in my heat and expend as little energy as possible doing it so I will be fresh on Saturday. I accomplished that and now I need to refocus and work with my coach to come up with our game plan for finals.”
KU freshman Andrea Geubelle finished 11th in the triple jump with her mark of 12.98 meters (42-07.00 ft.) on her way to earning All-America honors for the first time in her Kansas career. Geubelle is the third Jayhawk to earn All-America honors at the meet, joining Scott and freshman Mason Finley who finished second in the discus throw on Wednesday afternoon.
Both Kansas 4×400-meter relay teams competed Thursday evening, however, neither advanced to Saturday’s final. Senior Reggie Carter, freshman Kyle Clemons, sophomore Keith Hayes and junior Keron Toussaint shared the baton for the Kansas men, turning in a time of 3:07.66. The Jayhawks time ranked 12th overall.
Junior Kendra Bradley, freshman Taylor Washington, senior Shayla Wilson and freshman Denesha Morris passed the baton around in 3:39.80 on the women’s side. The KU quartet turned in the 16th fastest time on the day.
KU will return to action at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships on Saturday afternoon as Bonds and Stowe will run in their respective finals. Also competing Saturday will be senior Eric Fattig in the men’s long jump, Geubelle in the women’s long jump and Finley in the shot put.
Day 2 Agate — Thursday, June 10, 2010
Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships
Hayward Field – Eugene, Oregon– June 9-12, 2010
KANSAS RESULTS ONLY
Men
Pole Vault
1. Jordan Scott, 5.40 meters (17-08.50 ft.)
4×400-Meter Relay
12. Kansas (Carter, Clemons, Hayes, Toussaint), 3:07.66
Women
Triple Jump
11. Andrea Geubelle, 12.98 meters (42-07.00 ft.)
1,500 Meters
9. Lauren Bonds, 4:14.29 (advance to finals)
3,000-Meter Steeplechase
8. Rebeka Stowe, 10:09.05
4×400-Meter Relay
16. Kansas (Bradley, Washington, Wilson, Morris), 3:39.80
