Photo by: Michael Wade/Southland Conferenc
SFA Track and Field Sends Three to NCAA Nationals
2/28/2019 10:48:00 AM | Track & Field
"Pole Vault U" qualifies three vaulters for 2019 NCAA National championship meet
NCAA National Championship Qualifiers: Female athletes | Male athletes
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin's growing reputation as one of the premier pole vault programs in the country continues to grow, and with three vaulters qualifying for the NCAA National Championship meet next week in Birmingham, Alabama, that reputation appears well founded. Nastassja Campbell of the Southland Conference indoor champion Ladyjacks and Branson Ellis and Antonio Ruiz of the Lumberjacks team will each represent SFA at the two-day meet on March 8-9. The competition site will be familiar to the trio, as the Birmingham Crossplex indoor facility hosted the Southland Conference Indoor Championships just days ago, where Campbell and Ellis were both crowned champions of their respective competitions.
Campbell and Ellis, both freshmen, will be making their first appearance at the NCAA National Championships, while Ruiz makes his second appearance after garnering Second Team All-American honors with a 12th place finish last year. Ruiz qualified for nationals earlier this season with a mark of 5.53m (18-1.75) at the Don Kirby Invitational, while Campbell cleared 4.39m (14-4.75) at the Ted Nelson Invitational to open the season with a quick NCAA bid. Ellis punched his ticket to nationals and won conference glory in one fell swoop, clearing 5.50m (18-0.5) at the Southland Conference Indoor Championship on Sunday.
Among Southland schools with participants in the NCAA National Championship, SFA is well represented, tied for the league lead with three athletes. A total of five member institutions will be sending nine total athletes to Birmingham.
-SFA-
NACOGDOCHES, Texas -- Stephen F. Austin's growing reputation as one of the premier pole vault programs in the country continues to grow, and with three vaulters qualifying for the NCAA National Championship meet next week in Birmingham, Alabama, that reputation appears well founded. Nastassja Campbell of the Southland Conference indoor champion Ladyjacks and Branson Ellis and Antonio Ruiz of the Lumberjacks team will each represent SFA at the two-day meet on March 8-9. The competition site will be familiar to the trio, as the Birmingham Crossplex indoor facility hosted the Southland Conference Indoor Championships just days ago, where Campbell and Ellis were both crowned champions of their respective competitions.
Campbell and Ellis, both freshmen, will be making their first appearance at the NCAA National Championships, while Ruiz makes his second appearance after garnering Second Team All-American honors with a 12th place finish last year. Ruiz qualified for nationals earlier this season with a mark of 5.53m (18-1.75) at the Don Kirby Invitational, while Campbell cleared 4.39m (14-4.75) at the Ted Nelson Invitational to open the season with a quick NCAA bid. Ellis punched his ticket to nationals and won conference glory in one fell swoop, clearing 5.50m (18-0.5) at the Southland Conference Indoor Championship on Sunday.
Among Southland schools with participants in the NCAA National Championship, SFA is well represented, tied for the league lead with three athletes. A total of five member institutions will be sending nine total athletes to Birmingham.
-SFA-
Players Mentioned
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
/ Track & Field
Pole Vault
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