Thomas places third, Staley ties for fifth in high jump
Thomas qualifies for 60-meter hurdles final on Saturday
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 8, 2013) – Stonehill College senior Corey Thomas (Brookline, Mass./BC High) and sophomore Nick Staley (Medway, Mass./BC High) both turned in All-America performances in the high jump on day two of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships as part of the Division II Championships Festival at the CrossPlex Complex today.
Thomas, the 2011 national champion, placed third for the second-straight year at the indoor championships as he cleared 6-feet, 11.75-inches. It marks the fourth-straight year he has earned All-America honors for the indoor high jump. Thomas is now a seven-time All-American, adding a pair of outdoor honors to his four indoor high jump awards, as well as an All-America effort in the 60-meter high hurdles in 2011.
Thomas earns All-America honors for the fourth straight year at the NCAA Indoor Championships with his second-straight third place finish. (PHOTO BY Hal Yeager) |
Staley earns the first All-America honor of his career as he tied for fifth with a height of 6-feet, 10.75-inches. He was making his first appearance at the NCAA Indoor Championships after making his national championships debut at the 2012 Outdoor Championships where he finished tied for ninth with Thomas. Texas A&M University-Kingsville sophomore Jeron Robinson won the event by clearing 7-4.25.
Thomas was a perfect four for four through the first four progressions and was alone in first place as the bar was raised to 7-feet, 1-inch, but he was unable to clear the height on his three attempts. Staley was perfect through the first two heights and then cleared 6-10.75 on his third attempt before missing on all three tries at 6-11.75. It marks the first time in program history that Stonehill has produced two All-Americans in the same event.
Staley locked up his first career All-America effort with a fifth place finish in his first indoor championships appearance. (PHOTO BY Hal Yeager) |
Thomas also qualified sixth for tomorrow's 60-meter hurdles final with his time of 7.99-seconds to win his qualifying heat earlier in the afternoon. It marks his fastest time in the event at the NCAA Championships over his career as he qualifies for the final for the second time. Thomas, who will clinch All-America honors for the event for the second time by starting and finishing tomorrow's final, placed fifth at the 2011 Indoor Championships. Tomorrow's 60-meter hurdles final will be run at 4:25 p.m. (EST).
Stonehill, ranked 13th in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II Championship rankings, sits in 11th place in the team standings following the second day of competition with 9.50 points. The Skyhawks are second among the four Northeast-10 Conference programs that have earned points so far the Championships. Ashland University leads the way with 22 points, with fellow NE-10 member American International College sixth with 12.
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Thomas and Staley on the podium after their All-America finishes in the high jump. (PHOTO BY Hal Yeager) |
