FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Results

MARIETTA, Ohio (May 22, 2009) - North Central College pole vaulter Rachel Secrest now has an outdoor national championship to place next to the indoor title on her mantle, as the junior completed her 2009 sweep of the two crowns on Friday at the NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships, hosted by Marietta College.

Secrest's winning vault of 13 feet, 2 1/4 inches (4.02 meters) was short of her season best of 13'5 1/4" set last week at North Central's Gregory Invitational, but was enough to keep her clear of the competition and establish a new Division III Championships record.

Secrest opened the competition along with 12 remaining competitors at 12'2 1/2", clearing on her first attempt. She also sailed over the bar at 12'6 1'4" and 12'10 1/4" on her first attempt, and only Anna Heim of Moravian College (Pa.) and Catherine Street of Linfield College (Ore.) remained as the bar was raised to 13'2 1/4". Secrest clinched the title with a clearance on her second attempt, as her two rivals' attempts at the height were unsuccessful.

Secrest's title is the first outdoor women's pole vault crown for the Cardinals and the fourth national title in the event overall, as well as the 101st individual national championship in North Central College history.

Also competing in the pole vault for North Central were Carolyn Kalafut and Meghan Court. Kalafut placed 13th with a height of 11'10 1/2", while Court finished 18th with a vault of 10'10 3/4".

North Central competed in two other events on Friday as well, with Brandye Jackson competing in the preliminary heats of the 100-meter hurdles and Lauren Brightmore taking part in the qualifying heats of the 400-meter dash.

Jackson placed fourth in her heat in 14.54 seconds, earning the eighth and final spot in Saturday's final. Brightmore was eliminated from the competition after her time of 57.38 seconds was 14th-fastest among the 18 competitors.

The championships conclude on Saturday, as Jackson runs in the 100-meter hurdle final at 1:55 p.m. Eastern time, and Michelle Criscione competes in the high jump at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time.