JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Indiana State senior pole vaulter Will Staggs punched his ticket to the NCAA Outdoor National Championships Thursday, leading the charge for a stellar day for the Sycamores at the NCAA East First Round.
 
Staggs cleared a Hodges Stadium record 5.43m (17-9.75) on his second attempt, finishing third overall to secure his spot in Eugene. It will be his third NCAA National Championships appearance (2023 outdoor, 2024 indoor), with his 2023 national championship appearance also coming courtesy of a strong performance at North Florida.
 
Rachel Mehringer made her mark on the track Thursday afternoon, as the MVC 100m hurdles record holder advanced to the quarterfinals with a time of 13.05, finishing second in her heat and eighth overall. Mehringer will take to the track Saturday evening with a spot in the NCAA Outdoor National Championships on the line.
 
Indiana State's throwers also had a huge day, with all four who competed placing well above where they were seeded and two setting school records. Wyatt Puff shattered the shot put record at 18.71m (61-4.75), finishing 13th and narrowly missing out on advancing to the national championship by six centimeters. Sloan Cox also had a strong showing for the Sycamores in the shot put, with his mark of 18.30m (60-0.5) placing him 18th in the field.
 
Lillian Gibbs closed her sophomore campaign in a big way, as she broke her own school record in the javelin for the fourth time this season. Gibbs had a career-best toss of 48.69m (159-9), finishing second among the athletes in her flight and 15th in the field.
 
Niesha Anderson opened the day with one of her best performances of the season in the hammer throw. Two of Anderson's top three throws of the season came Thursday, with her top mark of the day at 57.15m (187-6) being the best in her flight and putting her 28th in the field.
 
Brooklyn Pfaff cleared her opening height of 3.94m (12-11) in the women's pole vault before inclement weather postponed competition to Friday. Aliseonna Garnett was in warmups for the women's shot put before that also was postponed to Friday.
 
Following multiple schedule changes to the competition, Friday's action will now begin at 9:30 a.m. with the resumption of the women's pole vault. A full list of Indiana State's results from Thursday and updated schedule for Friday can be found below.
 
THURSDAY RESULTS
Women's 100m Hurdles
8. Rachel Mehringer – 13.05 (advances to Saturday quarterfinals)
Men's Pole Vault
3. Will Staggs – 5.43m (17-9.75) (facility record, qualified for NCAA Outdoor National Championships)
Women's Pole Vault
Brooklyn Pfaff – 3.94m (12-11) (competition postponed to Friday at 9:30 a.m., Pfaff is still in the competition with the bar set at 4.09m (13-5))
Men's Shot Put
13. Wyatt Puff – 18.71m (61-4.75) (school record)
18. Sloan Cox – 18.30m (60-0.5)
Women's Shot Put
Aliseonna Garnett – postponed to Friday at 10 a.m.
Women's Hammer Throw
28. Niesha Anderson – 57.15m (187-6)
Women's Javelin
15. Lillian Gibbs – 48.69m (159-9) (school record)
 
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
9:30 a.m. – Women's Pole Vault – resumed from Thursday (Brooklyn Pfaff)
10 a.m. – Women's Shot Put (Aliseonna Garnett)
1 p.m. – Men's Discus (Noah Bolt, Wyatt Puff)
5:40 p.m. – Men's 3000m Steeplechase (Ryan Handy)
 
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