Conley Fourth in Long Jump at NCAA Indoor Championships

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Sophomore Sydney Conley earned a fourth-place finish in the long jump Friday night at the NCAA Indoor Championships inside the Albuquerque Convention Center. Conley’s finished earned her First Team All-America honors for the first time in her career.
 
“I can’t be mad today, I walked away with a PR,” said Conley after the competition. “That’s all I was looking for today. Whatever place that PR would put me in, I was going to be happy with, so fourth place is fine. It’s a great achievement to be an All-American and I hope I can keep this up for the next three years.”
 
Conley, who entered the meet as the nation’s No. 15 seed, quickly exceeded those expectations. On her first trip down the runway, the Fayetteville, Ark., native soared to an indoor personal best of 6.26 meters (20’6½”). The jump immediately shot her name to third place for the time being and would eventually keep her among the all-important top-nine, earning her three additional jumps in the finals.
 
In the finals, Conley again surpassed her indoor career best on her fifth attempt when she leaped to a distance of 6.29 meters (20’7¾”). The jump cemented Conley in fourth place where she eventually ended the day and earned the Kansas women five points toward the team point total.
 
Conley’s finish marked the third-straight season a Kansas long jumper has earned First Team All-America honors at the national indoor championships.  
 
In other action Friday, Natalia Bartnovskaya returned to the pole vault runway in hopes of defending her national title from a year ago. After two early clearances at 4.10 meters (13’5¼”) and 4.20 meters (13’9¼”), both on her first attempt, the senior passed at the next bar, trying to strategically place herself in hopes other competitors would faulter. The plan didn’t pan out, however, as she failed to clear the next bar at 4.30 meters (14’1¼”), forcing her to settle for a tie for tenth place. The meet was Bartnovskaya’s last as a Jayhawk due to her she no longer has eligibility remaining for the outdoor season. The Krasnoyarsk, Russia concluded her Kansas career as the school record holder both indoors and outdoors, a two-time First Team All-American and an NCAA Champion, all of which she accomplished in less than two seasons in the Crimson and Blue.
 
Another senior, Diamond Dixon, was in action Friday night looking to continue her journey to a second national title in the indoor 400 meters. The Houston product was unable to make it out of the semifinals, however, after she failed to tally one of the eight fastest times out of the 16-women field. Dixon took third in her heat and 11^th overall after she clocked in with a time of 52.92.
 
The Jayhawks will have one athlete in action on the final day of the NCAA Indoor Championships Saturday as senior Alex Bishop is slated to compete in the pole vault. The event is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. CT).
 
 
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