Bellgardt wins pole vault to highlight Mesa's first day at NJCAA Indoor Track and Field National Championships
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Leonard Bellgardt, IV, (Fr., Gilbert, AZ/Mesquite H.S.) leaped 15-11 to captured the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field national championship Friday night on the first day of the championship meet at the Albuquerque Convention Center.
That highlighted a strong showing in the event as Austin McCrum (So., Carson, Wash/Stevenson H.S.) placed third at 15-3.
Those two gave MCC 16 points and placed the T-Birds fifth heading into the final day of competition Saturday.
The Mesa women also had success in the pole vault as Dana Brady (So., Bradenton, Fla/Saguaro (AZ) H.S.) took third place with a jump of 11-7 3/4.
In addition, the distance medley relay team of Vicky Taverna (So.,Chandler, AZ/Seton Catholic H.S.), Teleya Bailey (Fr., Tempe, AZ/Marcos de Niza H.S.), Beatriz Martinez (So., Chandler, AZ/Chandler H.S,.) and Karlie Kjerstad (So., Chanler, AZ/Chandler H.S.) placed eighth with a time of 11:18.97.
The MCC women were in 1th place with seven points heading into the final day of competition Saturday.