BOLIVAR, Mo. -- After a pair of meets, the John Brown University track and field team produced its second NAIA A Standard qualifier as sophomore Will Vail leapt his way to a top-10 distance nationwide on Saturday (April 3) afternoon at the Southwest Baptist (Mo.) Bearcat Invite at the Orlin B. Stewart Track inside Plaster Stadium.
Vail also landed Sooner Athletic Field Athlete of the Week honors - the first of his career - for his efforts.
Needing a 7.25 meter distance in the long jump, Vail posted a 7.26 meters on his third jump - landing him a spot at the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships. His leap landed at the fourth-longest in the nation so far this season.
Junior Cassidy Valenzuela also notched a top-10 time in the 400 meter hurdles, landing in ninth place with a 1:09.37 mark in the field of 16 participants.
In its first year of outdoor competition, the Golden Eagles already boast two NAIA A Standard qualifiers, as Vail joins junior Allika Pearson, who qualified in the 5,000 meter two weeks ago in Searcy, Ark.
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