Williams Wins Triple Jump National Championship
Amber Williams won the triple jump at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships.
GRINNELL, Iowa - Amber Williams won the triple jump at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships. Williams, now a 9-time All-American, earned her first national championship after having placed second on Friday's long jump finals. Williams fouled her first attempt but came back in the second attempt to take the lead with a mark of 40-3.5 (12.28m), a new school record. Williams held on to the lead with that mark all through finals. As the last jumper in the order during finals, Williams was able to take her final attempt knowing that she had already won. Without any pressure, Williams came down the runway and bettered her mark by 6-inches to 40-9.5 (12.43m). With that mark Williams broke into the NCAA Division III all time best list for triple jump, tied for the 6th best mark ever.
Another Division III all time best performance was achieved by 60 meter hurdler Dan Arnold. After setting the school record in friday's preliminary heat with a time of 7.90, Arnold came back to run an even faster 7.85 in Saturday's finals, the fourth fastest all time best in NCAA Division III history. Arnold was edged by two time defending national champion Luke Campbell from Salisbury to finish in second place, Campbell crossed the finish in 7.82 seconds.
The women's team championship was claimed by Baldwin Wallace. The Pioneer women finished in 9th place, tied with UW-Eau Claire. The UW-Eau Claire men's team, coached by Pioneer Hall of Famer Chip Schneider, claimed the team title for the second year in a row. The Pioneer men finished in 18th place overall.
The Pioneers will enjoy a few weeks off before they begin their outdoor campaign at Washington University in St. Louis, MO on April, 1st and 2nd.