NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP SITE
MARIETTA, Ohio - Capital University track and field was on full display during Day One of the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships held had Marietta College's Don Drumm Stadium.
Leading the way for the Crusaders was senior and recent OAC Clyde Lamb Award winner Doug Gibbons (Troy, Ohio/Troy HS) who became Capital's first ever All-American in the Pole Vault. After entering the event ranked 13th nationally, Gibbons finished fifth with a school record jump of 15-11.25'.
"This is surreal," Gibbons said. "I've worked for four years to earn this. I was finally healthy this season, and am very fortunate to be an All-American."
"He's gotten a lot better lately and hasn't been doing a lot of training," Capital Head Coach Fred Barends said. "Doug has done it all over his career, and put it all together this year, and I've had a great time working with him."
Capital also insured itself of at least two more All-America performances as the women's 4x100 relay and 200-meter-dash-participant junior Jessica Starks (Akron, Ohio/Akron East HS) each advanced to Saturday's finals.
The women's 4X100 team consisting of junior Brittany Carter (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South HS), freshman Kwesi Seabrook (Dayton, Ohio/Chaminade Julienne HS), Lizzy Stanton (Cincinnati, Ohio/Withrow HS) and junior Jessica Starks (Akron, Ohio/Akron East HS) (along with freshman alternate Desma Triplett from Canal Winchester, Ohio/Harvest Prep HS) finished fourth with a season best and school-record time of 47.20 in the 4X100 Relay Trials.
"I just told them I loved them all and to go out and have a good time before the race," said Barends, who now has coached 197 NCAA qualifiers over his coaching tenure. "They ran fast, ran well, and cut off .39 off of their own school record. That's also a Division III Ohio record. They just trusted each other and did a great job."
Their performance qualified them for the 4x100 relay final that will take place Saturday at 1:10pm. The squad upended their previous best time of 47.59, which was the fifth-best time nationally coming into the meet.
"They really came in as the sixth seed and now we're the fourth seed, which means that our opportunities are there, which makes it that much more fun," Barends said. "They're just feeding off each other right now. They're having a great time and are doing exactly what they should be doing.
"They can go faster, but there's not much more than can do to prepare for Saturday now. They just need to keep having fun, relaxing, staying hydrated, and loving running. And that's what we have been preaching, to just run your best and love it."
Stanton did not need to see the official time to begin celebrating, as she immediately embraced Seabrook after the race.
"I wanted to re-assure her (Seabrook) that she did a good job. We always want to make sure she's feeling good, confident, and ready to go for the next race. We've been here before, this is her first time at the show."
Stanton says that the support of her team and the other OAC schools competing this weekend has made this show a memorable one thus far.
"We're all a family. We want to bring something good home to Capital for the city, our school, and our family. The host school, Marietta, and the other OAC schools are all cheering us on. It feels good to do well in front of them and our family that is here."
Wartburg College (46.37) ran the best time this year at the Division III level, as well as setting a Don Drumm Stadium record. Emory University (47.12) claimed the best times in the Relay Trials, while Wisconsin La Crosse finished third with their time of 47.15.
The team ran under a cloudless sky and perfect running conditions that saw the day's highest temperature hit near 80 degrees but with a touch of wind.
"This was perfect running weather," Seabrook said.
Barends added, "These kids have run through some pretty rough weather over the last few weekends, so it was nice for them to get a break and run in great weather today. But if it rains and the weather is rough Saturday, we'll be fine. At this point, we can run through anything."
Individually, Starks ran in the first of three heats in the 200 Dash, running a fourth-place time and personal best mark of 24.78. Starks, her coaches and her teammates were able to exhale after finding out that her time after all three meets was good for seventh place and qualified her for the 200 Final on Saturday at 3:45 p.m.
Starks will also be racing in the 100m Dash Trials on Friday at 4:25 p.m., with hopes of qualifying for the 100m Final Saturday at 2:40 p.m.
"Jessica has been battling injuries lately, so we're just holding our breath and hoping everything works out for her over the next three days. She's been consistently dropping her time all year and now looks really poised and ready to do her best. Regardless, she has gotten to that All-American status and can showcase what she can do in the 200m Final."