Staff Writer
The Tribune-Star
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Oregon’s Melissa Gergel was going to have to set a NCAA record to prevent Indiana State’s Kylie Hutson from repeating as the NCAA indoor pole vault champion.
Gergel couldn’t exceed the standard that Hutson set.
Hutson, a Terre Haute native, retained her NCAA title in the indoor pole vault at the 2010 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Saturday night at the University of Arkansas. Hutson had a championship-winning vault of 14 feet, 9 inches — tied for the best vault in NCAA history.
Hutson, also the 2009 outdoor pole vault champion, cleared 14-9 on her first attempt at that height. She tied UCLA’s Chelsea Johnson (2004 and 2006) and Florida State’s Lacy Janson (2006) for the best vault in indoor history.
Hutson could not be reached for comment before the Tribune-Star’s deadline Saturday night.
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 which would establish a new collegiate record if cleared. Gergel could not clear the record height, nor could Hutson, but her championship was assured.
“Getting the record would have been nice but winning the championship for the second straight year was Kylie’s goal,” said ISU track coach Jeff Martin, who coaches the vaulters at Indiana State.
Hutson missed her first two attempts at 14-5 3/4 but gathered herself and cleared the height on her third attempt. She then cleared 14-7 1/4 and 14-9 on her first attempt.
“We knew that it was going to be a real dog fight,” Martin 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.”
Indiana State senior Lauren Martin also had a record setting performance, finishing fifth in the women’s triple jump competition with a jump of 43-10.50 which set a new school record.
On the men’s side, ISU sophomore Major Clay finished 12th in his first men’s high jump competition at the NCAA Indoors with a height of 7-0 1/4.
