For the second time in a row at a national meet, junior
Tara Townsend set a new personal best in the pole vault.
This time, her PR earned her the All-American honor she's been working towards for the past three seasons.
Townsend was clean through her first three bars, clearing on the first attempt at 3.77, 3.92 and 4.07 meters to ensure herself of All-American honors after coming agonizingly close and falling short at the 2025 Indoor Championships in March. Her All-American spot ensured, Townsend also cleared 4.17 meters on her third attempt to set a new high mark for her career, finishing in eighth place to bring home a trophy for Hillsdale. The new personal best means Townsend is just the second vaulter in Hillsdale College history to clear that height, behind only Hillsdale College Athletic Hall of Famer Kayla Caldwell.
Townsend wasn't the only standout for Hillsdale at the national level in the pole vault this year, as senior
Kaylee Jackson also had an impressive day. Jackson was seeded 21st out of 22 jumpers entering the competition but made a massive leap up the standings with smooth first attempt clears at 3.77 and 3.92 meters, helping her finish alone in ninth place on the day in her first ever national meet appearance. Jackson had an excellent attempt at 4.07 meters for what would have been a new personal best, but just barely missed.
On the track,
Evyn Humphrey also finished an impressive freshman season at Hillsdale with a 10th place finish in the 1,500m run finals. Humphrey surged late, passing two runners on the final lap, but couldn't reel in enough of her competitors to get into eighth place and earn All-American honors. Humphrey was one of just two freshmen in the final, and her 4:38.49 time and 10th place show she'll be in the running to get that first All-American honor again in the future.
Hillsdale junior
Averi Parker also contested the shot put for the Chargers on Saturday, just two days after finishing 14th in the nation in the hammer throw. Parker had a solid second throw of 13.97 meters, but came up short of the final in the event, finishing in 18th place.
The future is bright for the Chargers, as Hillsdale loses Jackson but returns both of its All-Americans from the 2025 outdoor campaign, with Townsend and freshman Ally Kuzma, who took third in the 10,000m run on Thursday, both slated to be back. They'll provide a strong foundation for a squad with a lot of promising young talent that could have a big year in 2026.
