EUGENE, ORE. ? Indiana State junior Lauren Martin placed 13th overall in the women's triple jump at the USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships today, just missing a trip to the finals with a leap of 42'6” (12.95m). She was the second highest placing collegian in the field, topped by Kansas State's TiAra Walpool, who jumped 43'1.75” (13.15m) and tied for ninth.
“She was really disappointed in not making the finals,” John Gartland, Indiana State women's track & field coach, said. “But she did finish as one of the top nine women triple jumpers in the United States and that is quite an accomplishment.”
Martin was one of two current Sycamores in competition on Friday as freshman Sarah Snapp also competed in the USA Junior Outdoor Championships in the 100 meter hurdles, finishing 15th overall with a time of 14.75.
“It was not one of her best races but she competed against a very outstanding field and the experience will serve her well as she continues to compete for Indiana State,” Gartland said.
Also in competition were former Sycamores Jordan Fife and Aubrey Herring.
Fife, the Indiana State record holder in the 3000 meter steeplechase, placed 12th in the preliminaries of the 3000 meter steeplechase Thursday and will run in the finals on Saturday starting at 8:40 p.m. (ET). Fife was a two-time All-American for the Sycamores and a two-time Missouri Valley Conference 3000 meter steeplechase champion (2005, 2006). He finished ninth in the 2006 NCAA Outdoor Championships and was 15th in the 2005 NCAA Championship.
Herring, the Indiana State record holder in the 110 meter high hurdles, placed 12th in the first round of the 110 meter high hurdles with a time of 13.45, advancing to the semifinals which will be run at 6:40 p.m. (ET) Saturday. The finals will be run at 9:23 p.m. (ET) Saturday.
A four time Missouri Valley Conference champion in the event, Herring also competed at the NCAA Outdoor Championships all four years as a Sycamore, finishing second in 2000. He was also sixth in 1999, eighth in 2001 and 15th in 1998. He was national champion at the 2001 NCAA Indoor Championships in the 60 meter hurdles after finishing second in 2000.
Two more members of the 2009 Indiana State University track & field team will be competing this weekend as junior Kylie Hutson competes in the women's pole vault and sophomore Major Clay competes in the men's high jump. Both events will be held on Sunday.
Hutson made it a clean sweep in the women's pole vault this season, winning both the indoor and outdoor Missouri Valley Conference championships and the indoor and outdoor NCAA National Championships. She is the top collegian and the eighth ranked athlete in the field that will be competing at 2:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday.
She is the school record holder, and the all-time Missouri Valley Conference record holder, in both the indoor and outdoor pole vault and both were set in winning the 2009 indoor and outdoor championships. The Sycamore junior went 14'4.75” to win the indoor title and 14'5.25” to win the outdoor title.
Indiana State sophomore Major Clay will be competing in the high jump at 2:55 p.m. (ET) Sunday. Clay is the sixth best collegian in the field and 17th overall. Clay has cleared 7'3 in practice last week and was well over seven-feet this week during workouts in preparation for the USA Championships. He qualified for the USA Championships with a personal best leap of 7'2.5” at the Indiana State Pacesetter Invitational.
Both Hutson and Clay will be starting at the highest height of any meet this year. The starting height for the high jump will be 2.15 meters (7'0.5”) while the starting height for the pole vault will be 4.20 meters (13'9.25”).
For live coverage on the internet, go the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championship home page at http://www.usatf.org/events/2009/USAOutdoorTFChampionships/
