HUTSON CLAIMS NATIONAL CHAMPION TITLE IN POLE VAULT

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.  - It was a remarkable competition in the women's pole vault at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships this evening as Indiana State senior Kylie Hutson outlasted Oregon junior Melissa Gergel to claim her second straight indoor championship and third straight NCAA title of her career.

"We knew that it was going to be a real dog fight," Jeff Martin, Indiana State assistant coach, said. She got behind on a couple of misses but kept her composure and pulled it out once again. The whole focus was getting her into a rhythm and the crowd was really behind her."

Hutson set a new Indiana State record when she cleared 14'-9" (4.50 meters) on her first attempt in the final stages of the competition tonight. That ties Hutson for the third best height all-time in collegiate history and ties her with Chelsea Johnson of UCLA and Lacy Janson of Florida State for the third best performer of all time. Johnson and Janson both cleared 4.50 meters in 2006 with Johnson also clearing that height in 2004.

Gergel missed on her first two attempts at 14'-9" and then passed, pinning her hopes of upsetting Hutson at the height of 14'-11" (4.55 meters) which would establish a new collegiate record if cleared. The Sycamore senior had the best attempts at the record height but was not able to successfully clear the bar. The same was true for Gergel who finished second in the competition.

"Getting the record would have been nice but winning the championship for the second straight year was Kylie's goal," Martin, who coaches the vaulters at Indiana State, said.

Hutson missed her first two attempts at 14'-05.25" (4.40 meters) but gathered herself and cleared the height on her third attempt. She then cleared 14'-7.25" (4.45 meters) and 14'-9" (4.50 meters) on her first attempt.

MCCALL TAKES THIRD PLACE IN SHOT PUT AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. - U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Midwest Field Athlete of the Year, Jeneva McCall, finished fourth in the weight throw with a toss of 67' 11" (20.70m). The sophomore scored five team points for Southern Illinois. 

On the second day of competition McCall recorded her top finish of the meet, third place in the women's shot put, with a school-record and personal-best toss of 56' 7.25" (17.25m) earning All-America honors for the second time in two days. Her personal-best throw set a new Valley record in the shot put.

Other performances in the Valley:

Indiana State senior Lauren Martin also had a record setting performance for Indiana State, finishing fifth in the women's triple jump competition with a jump of 43'-10.50" (13.37 meters) which set a new Indiana State record. The Sycamore senior was 15th in the 2009 NCAA Indoor Championships.  "This was a great accomplishment for Lauren as she closes out her senior indoor season with a tremendous performance at the NCAA's," Gartland said.

Wichita State's Chris Dickman collected a Wichita State University record 5,652 points to place seventh overall at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Championships.  Dickman also had a top finish of fourth in the men's 1000-meter run, clocking in at 2:36.04.  Teammate Tyler Simmons competed in the first flight and jumped 24' 11.75" to finish 11th out of the 15 competitors in the long jump, but was the eighth american to finish.  Simmons holds the Wichita State University indoor long jump record at 25' 6.25".

Sasha Leeth of Southern Illinois, a senior in her final indoor championships, threw 64' 04" (19.61m) for ninth place in the weight throw. Fellow thrower Rickael Roach also competed, throwing 59' 2" (18.03m) for 15th place.

Indiana State sophomore Major Clay finished 12th in his first men's high jump competition at the NCAA Indoors with a height of 7' 0.25" (2.14 meters). "Major has made much progress this season and in this meet," John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach, said. "All his attempts were good and if he could have cleared that last height it would have put him into the scoring. He is just a sophomore and could become one of the best high jumpers in Indiana State history. He is a great athlete to watch."

Southern Illinois' J.C. Lambert finished 14th in the men's weight throw with a best toss of 65' 9.50" (20.05m).  Teammate Gwen Berry finished 14th at 52' 3.25" (15.93m).  Malaikah Love finished 11th in the women's pentathlon with 3916 points. The sophomore finished 15th in the 60-meter dash (8.91), 11th in the long jump (19' 0.50", 5.80m), 6th in the 800-meter (2:21.31), 8th in the shot put (38-00.00, 11.58m) and 13th in the high jump (5' 3.75", 1.62m).