Track & Field: Kalsey Makes History at Nationals, Earns All-American in Pole Vault

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Freshman Marissa Kalsey (Waynesburg, PA / Waynesburg), a member of the Westminster College women's track & field team, finished in third-place at the 2013 NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships Friday at North Central College in Naperville, IL, earning the distinction of All-American in the process. Kalsey cleared 3.95 meters breaking her own school-record for the fourth time this season.

"It's really exciting," said Kalsey. "I was expecting to do well, but I wasn't expecting to get two PR's (personal records) in one day, so I was really happy about that."


Kalsey recorded a vault of 3.84 meters earlier in the competition for a new PR and school-record. She then topped that effort with the 3.95 meter vault in her final attempt at that height. 

"I was pretty surprised, especially how the day started", Kalsey added. "My step was off and I couldn't get the right jump. Usually I don't miss in the early jumps but I missed the first two attempts. I was surprised that I pulled through. "


Kalsey, the first Titan female to ever compete in the pole vault at the national level, joined former Westminster track & field standout Jessica Cooper '08 for the best finish in national competition by any Westminster male or female track & field student-athlete. Cooper placed third in the high jump at the NCAA D-III outdoor championships in 2008. Kalsey and Cooper are the only Westminster female student-athletes to earn track & field All-American status.


Kalsey ranked ninth among all D-III vaulters in the nation going into today's competition. She helped lead the Titan women's team to a first-place finish at the 2013 Presidents' Athletic Conference Invitational by placing first in the pole vault with a then school-record mark of 3.74 meters. Tim McNeil '96 is the Titan track & field coach. Assistant Bradi Rhoades coaches the Titan pole vaulters.


"Outdoor season usually goes really well because I will have more jumps in by then," said Kalsey when asked about what's next. "Hopefully, I'll PR a couple more times."


The rest of the Westminster track & field team started the outdoor competitive season today at the Coastal Carolina Invitational, a two-day event.