Flores Wins Pole Vault at NJCAA Track and Field National Championships; Men 9th, Women 10th

  MESA, AZ - Jacob Flores, pictured right, (So., Mesa, AZ/Seton Catholic H.S.) got Mesa's particpation in the NJCAA National Track and Field Championships off with a bang as he captured the pole vault title with a jump of 15-11.

  As a team, the Mesa men placed ninth in the championship with 27 points, while the women took tenth, also with 27 points.

  Flores is the second straight MCC athlete to win a national title in the event, following Pau Tonnenson who won a year ago.

  Flores, who was seeded seventh in the event, cleared his winning height on his first attempt, which second place B Haddock, of Paradise Valley, did not.

  Emily Wilkinson (So., Tucson, AZ/Ironwood H.S.) took seventh in the women's 1500 with a time of 4:59.12.

  Kadie McNamara (So., Mesa, AZ/Desert Vista H.S.) was fifth in the women's discus with a throw of 139-3.

  David Figueroa (Fr., Nogales, AZ/Nogales H.S.) was fourth in the 800 in 1:52.13.

  Mesa had two placers in the women's pole vault. Kristie Heathcote (Fr., El Paso, Texas/ Maeser Acad.(Utah) H.S.) was third at 11-3 3/4, while Dana Brady (So., St. Petersburg, Fla./Saguaro (AZ) H.S.) was fifth with a jump of 10-11 3/4.

  Alexander Mbali (So., Maple Grove, Minn/Maple Grove H.S.) took fourth in the high jump with a leap of 6-9 3/4.