Track and Field 5/25/2019 6:27:00 PM Iain Dexter, EOU Sports Information Director Sledge Lays Down the Hammer, Wins Pole Vault National Title GULF SHORES, Ala. – Entering as the No. 1-ranked men's pole vaulter in the NAIA, Corey Sledge proved his dominance in event, claiming the national title on Saturday at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Sledge entered with a personal best mark of 5.05 meters, which he accomplished just two weeks prior at the conference championships. However, he would need to take his ability one step further to claim the championships against the rest of the nation's best. After once again reaching 5.05 meters, Sledge was left with just one more opponent in Bethel's Jordan Downs. The transfer out of Lane Community College needed just one attempt to hit the eventual winning mark of 5.10 meters. Downs missed his next three attempts, and Sledge was crowned champion. "What an exciting way to end a busy weekend," said head coach Ben Welch. "Not only with a national title, but with a dramatic finish at that." Sledge is the team's third men's pole vault national champion in outdoor season, joining Robbie Haynie (2011) and Shawn Trimble (2003). He adds the national title and a second All-American performance to his fourth place finish at the indoor championships. Joining Sledge as an All-American on the final day of competition was senior Lane Inwards, who finished his outstanding EOU career in the men's 1,500 meters. Inwards helped make for an exciting race, taking sixth place in 3:56.64. However, the senior sat in 11th place heading into the final lap, but moved up five spots in the last 400 meters thanks to a final lap time of 56.88 seconds. EOU also had two freshmen women gain valuable experience on the national stage and prove that they will be in the running for more All-American awards for years to come. Maggie Ledbetter took 15th place in the discus throw with a long toss of 40.57 meters. Fellow freshman Kalulusno Ngaida took 24th out of 35 competitors in the high jump, reaching a height of 1.59 meters. "I am very proud of the athletes and how well they all competed this weekend," said Welch. Sledge and Inwards earned 13 combined team points for the men, helping them finish 23rd overall. The women, with All-Americans on Friday and Saturday, placed 32nd with nine points. British Columbia, a first-year member of the CCC, took first place on both the men's and women's side. 2019 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field All-Americans Karianne Zollman – Women's Javelin Throw, 8th Place Payton Jolley – Women's Pole Vault, 6th Place Paige Dodd – Women's Heptathlon, 8th Place Katie Jo Gebhardt, Michelle Herbes, Faith Homer, Megan Boals – Women's 4x800-Meter Relay, 5th Place Lane Inwards – Men's 1,500 Meters, 6th Place Corey Sledge – Men's Pole Vault, 1st Place For more information on Eastern Oregon track and field, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com. FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu