Princeton University Athletics
Players Mentioned
Frick Wins High Jump at NCAA East Regional
May 30, 2008 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
Princeton high jumper Justin Frick had the finest day of his short career Friday at the NCAA East Regional Track & Field Championships at Florida State's Mike Long Track, clearing a career-best 7 feet, 2 1/4 inches on his first attempt to win the event and qualify for next month's NCAA championship meet.
The Princeton sophomore, who also equalled the meet record, came up clutch twice before clearing the winning mark on his first attempt. He missed his first two attempts at both 2.11 meters (6-11) and at 2.16 meters (7-1) before clearing both of those heights on his final attempt.
North Carolina's Donte' Nall would also clear 7' 2 1/4, on his third and final attempt, but both Frick and Nall could not clear 7' 3 1/2 and Frick was the winner based on misses.
Frick, the 2007 IC4A champion outdoors, was also this year's Heptagonal indoor champion after clearing 7' 1/4".
Later at night, the Tigers got a strong performance in the women's 5,000 meters from freshman Ashley Higginson, who finished sixth out of 34 runners in a time of 16:32. The top five in that race automatically qualify for the national meet, though Higginson has a strong chance for an at-large berth. Teammate Jolee VanLeuven, who will likely run the 10,000 meters at the national meet, also had an impressive finish in the 5,000 on Friday, placing ninth in 16:35.88. Sarah Cummings also participated in the 5,000 on Friday, finishing in 17:21.
On the men's side, Princeton had a pair of seniors compete in the 5,000 meters. David Nightingale was 19th in 14:39.13, while Frank Tinney finished in 15:15.62. Sophomore Tom Zozokos ran in the 400-meter hurdles and ran a 53.57.
Princeton also had competitors in the 1,500 meter preliminary races on Friday afternoon. On the women's side, Liz Costello finished fifth in her heat in a time of 4:25.90, while James O'Toole finished eighth in his heat in 3:52.21
Sophomore Eric Plummer had a top mark of 56 feet, 6 3/4 inches in the shot put Friday afternoon. Princeton also had a second high jump competitor in Ian Fox, who did not clear the initial height of 6-9.