All Three Sycamore Athletes Earn All-American

Recognition At NCAA Indoor Nationals;

ISU Women Finish 18th In Team Standings

KEVIN JENISON

GoSycamores.com

COLLEGE STATION, TEX. ? A change in the size of the spikes just before the competition may have made a big difference in the results in the men's high jump at the 2011 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field Championships with ISU junior Major Clay finishing 11th in the standings.

“I felt very confident that I could win this competition,” Clay said. “I had trained very hard but the change in spikes was very frustrating. I did the best that I could do but I know that I could have done better.”

The change from a half-inch to quarter-inch spikes came at the request of championship host Texas A&M University to cut down on the wear and tear of the track.

“It really took away from the speed jumpers,” John Gartland, Indiana State assistant coach and coach of the high jumpers, said. “It affected nearly all of the competitors and the heights showed it. The more finesse jumpers were not as affected, however. It was just a frustrating experience.”

Clay cleared 7'-0.5” (2.15 meters) to tie for 11th in the standings. That height was below his season best effort of 7''-4.5” (2.25 meters). It was still his best finish at the Indoor Championships after placing 12th in the 2010 competition.

“The change was made before the start of the competition,” John McNichols, Indiana State men's track & field coach said. “It was frustrating for everyone since they had trained expecting to use one set of spikes and then had to use another set. The NCAA committee will now have to make a ruling on future decisions because this did affect the competition.”

Indiana's Derek Drouin won the competition by clearing 7'-7.75” (2.33 meters). He was the only competitor over 7'-4” as Ricky Robertson of Mississippi was second at 7'-3.75” (2.23 meters).

Clay earned second team All-American status with his effort at the Indoor Championships. He joins ISU sophomore Felisha Johnson and senior Kelsey Hanley who were named first team All-American's for their efforts in the women's weight throw Friday.

Johnson broke the school record for the third time this season, throwing a personal best 74'-5.5” (22.69 meters) on her last throw to claim the 2011 National Championship in the women's weight throw and break the facility record. She is the third Indoor National Champion for Indiana State following former Sycamore Kylie Hutson's 2009 and 2010 championships in the indoor women's pole vault and Holli Hyche's 1993 and 1994 championships in the 55 and 200 meters.

She is also the first national champion for ISU in the women's indoor weight throw. Former Sycamore Christy Barrett was second in the 1991 shot put and sixth in the 1990 shot put. Jenny Folz placed fifth in the 1999 weight throw with Carrie Myers fourth in the 2000 weight throw.

Hanley finished in seventh with a throw of 65'-6.25” (19.97). This was Hanley's third trip to the NCAA Indoor National Championships and her best placing in the event.

The Indiana State women finished in a tie for 18th in the team standings with 12 points.