Princeton University Athletics
Harris is the 2002 NCAA Outdoor High Jump Champion
June 01, 2002 | Men's Track and Field
June 1, 2002
Baton Rouge, La. - Tora Harris captured the 2002 NCAA championship high jump title, clearing 2.25m (7'4.5"). Harris becomes the first Princeton track and field athlete to win two individual national championships in a career. Earlier this year, Harris won the indoor national high jump title.
Harris cleared 2.31m (7'7") at the 2002 outdoor Heptagonal championships and entered the NCAA championship as the favorite. Harris' Heptagonal jump is the best collegiate mark, and ranks Harris as the No. 4 high jumper the world. It broke the existing Heptagonal record of 2.27m (7'5.25"), which Harris set last season.
American Matt Hemming and Canadian Mark Boswell both recently cleared 2.32m to move in front of Harris in the world ranking. Jacques Freitag of South Africa is the world's No. 1 ranked high jumper. He cleared 2.37m this year on March 23.
Harris' 2.31m mark is a new Princeton record. The NCAA record is 2.37m (7'9.25") set in 1989 by Hollis Conway of Southern Louisiana.
On March 8, Harris captured the indoor national high jump title, clearing 2.26m (7'5") At that point Harris became the first Tiger since Dave Pellegrini '80, who won the 35lbs. weight throw in 1980, to win an individual national title.
Competing in the men's 800m prelims, Ryan Smith finished in 17th place with a time of 1:49.44. Josh McCaughey finished 16th in the hammer throw with a distance of 60.58m (198'09")
for complete 2002 NCAA Track and Field Results, please click here
for High Jump Results, please click here