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Cornerstone University Golden Eagles
Ashley Verplank

Verplank earns NAIA All-American in rain shortened day one

5/25/2022 9:20:00 PM

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Ashley Verplank earned her first NAIA All-American honor with a third-place finish in the pole vault at 3.65m to highlight a rain shortened day one of action. At roughly 7:10 p.m. local time all action was shut down for the evening due to lightening in the area. The NAIA is working on a rework of the schedule to get in the remaining events from tonight on day two and three of the NAIA Outdoor Championships. 
 
Men's Results:
Right before the first men's event of the 4x800m, lightning struck and postponed everything for the remainder of Wednesday evening. 
 
Women's Results: 
Senior Anna VanTubergen started NAIA Outdoor Nationals action off with her first ever appearance in Gulf Shores in flight one of the hammer throw. In her three throws, she improved on each one going 46.43m, 47.15m, and 47.66m. The high mark of 47.66m was not good enough to qualify for finals as she finished 19th out of 33 in the event. 
 
In the pole vault, Morgan Vargo jumped in at 3.45m in her first experience at NAIA Nationals and cleared that with ease. Later she cleared 3.55m, but she was unable to clear 3.60m as she missed NAIA All-American status and finished 11th overall. 
 
Ashley Verplank in search of her first ever NAIA All-American honor, also competed in the pole vault. She cleared both 3.45m and 3.55m with ease as well. She skipped the 3.60m mark and on her second attempt cleared 3.65m. She was unable to go any further, but the 3.65m in windy conditions was good for third overall to put her on the podium. This mark is the highest ever finish at NAIA Outdoor Nationals in pole vault history. 
 
What's Next? 
The NAIA is working on a reworked schedule for tomorrow where CU will have the 4x8, steeple, and 10,000m still to go with all the other regularly scheduled events. As of right now, Ben Hofstra is scheduled for the first event starting at 7:15 p.m. EST. 
 
Track & Field Contact: Jesse Campbell 
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