ABILENE, Texas - Sending seven pole vaulters to the Lone Star State for a pair of meets this weekend, University of Sioux Falls Track & Field swept the men's and women's pole vault competitions at the War Hawk Classic, hosted by McMurry University.
Courtney Crandall hit an automatic qualifying mark by winning the women's competition and
Scott Greenman set the top men's Division II mark with his victory, while the other five vaulters all cleared a provisional qualifying mark.
Dusting off their spikes, three USF vaulters returned to competition after redshirting the past outdoor and indoor seasons, and they did not disappoint. Crandall, Greenman, and 2015 NCAA Indoor National Champion Jagger Gran all competed as an attached USF competitor for the first time since the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships.
Crandall registered the top women's mark in Division II, by clearing 4.10 meters (13 feet-5.25 inches), which is also an automatic qualifying mark for the 2016 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Bradenton, Fla. on May 26-28.
Two-time NSIC Champion Kimberly Peterson cleared 3.95 meters (12-11.50) to finish second with a provisional qualifying mark that nearly ensures her of advancing to her fourth consecutive NCAA Championship meet. A 2016 NCAA Indoor All-American, Sophie Harano placed third at the meet with a mark of 3.70 meters (12-1.50). Peterson's mark ranks third in Division II so far this season and Harano is tied for sixth nationally.
A three-time All-American, Greenman returned to form after his redshirt seasons, winning the men's pole vault competition by clearing 5.15 meters (16-10.75), just five centimeters shy of the automatic qualifying standard. Greenman moved to the top of the NCAA Division II national qualifying list with Friday's mark.
Another three-time All-American, Gran was joined by 2016 NCAA Indoor All-American Jacob Zebedee in a tie for second after both cleared 5.00 meters (16-4.75), ranking them fifth in Division II this season. Chase Jensen earned his first trip to the NCAA Championships this past indoor season and he placed fifth at 4.85 meters (15-11.00), which places him ninth in Division II.
Also in competition this weekend were a trio of mid-distance athletes, who all ran at the Yellow Jacket Spring Open in Spearfish, S.D. Jase Kraft won the men's 1.500-meter run in a time of 3:56.17 and Mason Phillips was ninth at 4:13.26 in the same event. Trey Ferguson clocked an 800-meter run time of 1:58.48 to finish fourth.
USF's seven pole vaulters will compete tomorrow at the Bowie Invitational in Arlington, Texas tomorrow, March 26.
