University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
NCAA Indoor Championships
Pole Vault Silver for Blankenship at NCAAs
March 14, 2015 | Track & Field
March 14, 2015
Men's Results | Women's Results | 
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Tennessee junior Jake Blankenship capped a stellar indoor season with a national runner-up finish in the men's pole vault on Friday -- the first day of the 2015 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. With a silver medal now in tow, the first NCAA medal of his career, Blankenship is also guaranteed first team All-America status.
Also coming away from Friday night as a newly crowned first team All-American was distance specialist Chelsea Blaase. The junior placed fourth in the women's 5000 meters in a new career-best time of 15:47.52 -- nearly a 52-second improvement from the 16:39.24 that earned her an 11th-place finish at last year's national indoor meet.
Competing at the NCAA Indoor Championships for the second time in his career, Blankenship earned his first medal behind a new lifetime-best vault of 19 feet, 0.25 inches (5.80 meters). He finished behind only Shawn Barber of Akron, the reigning collegiate record holder who took first with another new record mark of 19 feet, 4.74 inches (5.91). Blankenship's effort was also the second-best in program history, falling just behind Lawrence Johnson's school record of 19 feet, 1.50 inches (5.83).
After needing two attempts to clear his first two progressions of 5.40 and 5.50, Blankenship went up and over the next three heights -- 5.60, 5.70, and 5.80 -- in a single attempt. His push for a national title ended when he missed at 5.90 (19-4.25), but his final mark of 19 feet, 0.25 inches stands as the second-best effort in a runner-up finish in NCAA Indoor Championship history.
It was the 16th time in history that Tennessee had scored in the men's pole vault at the national meet. The Volunteers have now accrued 88.5 total points all-time in the event, the second-most in the NCAA. Blankenship's mark of 5.80 meters also stands in a tie for the fifth-best mark in meet history. He concludes his indoor campaign having tallied three individual victories on the year and having never finished worse than third in any competition this season. He was also the runner-up at the SEC Indoor Championships two weeks ago, posting a mark of 18 feet, 3.75 inches (5.66).
Joining Blankenship with first team All-American, Blaase moves into second all-time in UT's indoor history with her 5000 meter time of 15:47.52. She is now two-for-two in All-America efforts this year as she was also a first teamer during this fall's cross country season.
In the men's 60-meter dash, true freshman Christian Coleman placed third in his heat, sixth overall, with a time of 6.60 to advance to Saturday's final. With a top-eight position guaranteed, Coleman has also secured recognition as a first team All-American.
Tennessee entered the evening as the only program at the NCAA Championships with two representatives in the men's weight throw. Tavis Bailey advanced to the finals of the event, finishing in ninth place overall behind a throw of 69 feet, 9.75 inches (21.28) and reigning SEC weight throw champion Cameron Brown did not record a distance after fouling on each of his first three attempts.
Behind the points tallied by Blaase and Blankenship, the Tennessee women's squad sits in a tie for 18th in the women's standings with 5.0 points while the men are in a tie for sixth with 8.0 points.
The 2015 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships conclude on Saturday and UT will send two student-athletes into competition. Junior Cassie Wertman will take part in the women's shot put at 4:45 p.m. ET before Coleman runs in the 60-meter dash finals at 8:10.
MEN'S RESULTS FRIDAY AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
Weight Throw: 9. Tavis Bailey, 69-9.75 (21.28); Cameron Brown - f
60m prelim: 6. Christian Coleman, 6.60
Pole Vault: 2. Jake Blankenship, 19-00.25 (5.80)!
WOMEN'S RESULTS FRIDAY AT NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS
5000m: 4. Chelsea Blaase, 15:47.52!
