St. Aug's Kindred wins National High Jump Crown for second straight year

Kindred Wins National High Jump Crown For Second Straight Year

May 22, 2009

SAN ANGELO, Texas – Saint Augustine’s College’s Joe Kindred (Sr./Fuquay-Varina, N.C.) successfully defended the high jump national title, and teammate Chris Copeland (Fr./Suffolk, Va.) of the Falcons claimed third place in the event during the second day of the 2009 NCAA Division II National Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Angelo State University.

Kindred

Kindred, who earned national and regional field athlete of the year honors this week, leaped 7-2.25 to win the high jump title for the second straight year. Oliver Harsanyi of Western State placed second at 7-1 followed by Copeland of Saint Augustine’s College at 6-11.75.

The last student-athlete to win the high jump in consecutive years at the championship meet was Will Littleton of Angelo State in 2003 and 2004.

Kindred, who placed third in the long jump Thursday, has scored 16 of the Falcons’ 22 points heading into the final day on Saturday (May 23). Seven-time defending champion Abilene Christian scored 25 points after six events to hold a slim lead over the Falcons.

Josh Scott (Soph./Winter Haven, Fla.) and Ramon Gittens (Soph./St. Michael, Barbados) posted the top two times to advance to Saturday’s men’s 200 dash finals. Scott finished in 20.66 seconds and Gittens ran 20.71. Richard Boone (Jr./Petersburg, Va.) also qualified to give the Falcons three runners in the 200.

Barbara Pierre (Jr./Winter Haven, Fla.) won her heat in 23.28 to reach the women’s 200 finals on Saturday. On Thursday, Pierre set the national record in the women’s 100 dash in 11.18 seconds.