Tulane University
Don Kirby Invitational
Pole Vaulters Shine at Don Kirby Invitational
Feb 11, 2017 | Women's Track and Field, Track & Field
Final Results
ALBUQUERQUE – Tulane landed two of three competitors in the top ten of the pole vault rankings on Saturday afternoon at the Don Kirby Invitational in Albuquerque, a meet that saw some of the top jumpers in the nation vying for a place on the podium and a qualifying mark for the NCAA Indoor National Championships. Both Green Wave athletes who placed in the top-ten would nearly eclipse their career-high marks, with Alyssa Applebee coming just centimeters short of a school record at the Albuquerque Convention Center in New Mexico.
QUOTE
"These ladies represented Tulane very well this weekend against top level collegians and post-collegians at the Don Kirby Invitational. Alyssa Applebee's performance puts her in the top 13 in the NCAA right now, and it was great to see Mary Carson Pitts jump over four meters for the second straight week. This weekend's performance was great progress heading into the conference championships two weeks from now."
--Assistant Track & Field Coach Doug Fraley
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE DON KIRBY INVITATIONAL
Redshirt senior Alyssa Applebee, who cleared a height of 4.22m (13-10.00) for just the second time in her collegiate career, was Tulane's top finisher in Saturday's meet, coming in fourth place on the Green Wave's best pole vault mark of the season. At 4.22m, Applebee now is now tied for the no. 9 mark nationally and ranks in the top 13, which bodes well for her hopes of qualifying for the NCAA Indoor National Championships on March 10-11.
Senior Mary Carson Pitts posted the Green Wave's second-highest jump on the weekend, clearing 4.02m (13-3.25) to come within centimeters of her personal best 4.05m that she set at last year's LSU Twilight. Pitts would finish in ninth place for her sixth consecutive top-ten finish this year, clearing four meters for the second straight week. Rounding out the Tulane efforts in at the Don Kirby Invitational was sophomore Rebekah Markel, who jumped 3.75m (12-3.50) on her second attempt to earn her a no. 21 finish in Albuquerque.
UP NEXT
The Green Wave will close out the regular season at the LSU Twilight in Baton Rouge next Friday. Following next weekend's meet, Tulane will travel back to Birmingham for the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships on February 24-25.
Fans can keep up with the latest in Tulane track & field by following along on Twitter (@GreenWaveXCTF) or by finding the team on Facebook.
Tulane Results from the Don Kirby Invitational
Pole Vault
4. Alyssa Applebee, 4.22m (13-10.00)
9. Mary Carson Pitts, 4.02m (13-2.25)
21. Rebekah Markel, 3.75m (12-3.50)
Players Mentioned
