ADA, OHIO - Prior to leaving for the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships, Keene State's Crystal Blamy said she would be satisfied knowing she had been the top jumper in the country throughout the season.

But that all changed on Friday when she got the championships at the Sports Center on the campus of Ohio Northern University. "I would've have been totally devastated if I didn't win, 'said the senior from Walpole, N.H. "There was no reason why I shouldn't win."

Instead of devastated, Blamy was elated after winning the national championship in the high jump with a Division III best mark of 5'-7 ¾". After missing on her initial jump at 5'-3", Blamy hit all of her remaining jumps on the first try, including the one for the national championship. "When she missed the first one it was a wake-up call, "said KSC Coach Peter Thomas. "But she nailed the rest of them."

After hitting the wining jump, Blamy had to wait for Lisa Shepherd from Richard Stockton College to complete her jumps. When she failed on her third and final jump, Blamy knew the title was hers. "I was just very relieved and started breathing again," said Blamy, who earlier was named the Northeast Regional Female Athlete of the Year.

A three-time All-America in the event, Blamy becomes the ninth KSC athlete to earn a national championship. With Mary Proulx and Mark Miller leading the way with five and four national titles respectively, Keene State has now garnered a combined 17 national championships. All but one came in track and field.

Senior Jenn Adams will be attempting to give KSC a second national champion when she races in the 5,000-meter race on Saturday. The senior from Saratoga Springs, N.Y. warmed up for the race, by running the anchor leg of Keene State's All-American distance medley relay on Friday night.

Taking the baton from senior Kristen Gavin, Adams turned on the jets and passed to runners to secure the eight and final All-American spot for the Owls with a time of 12:12.60. "Jenn put the hammer down and made up a lot of ground, "said Thomas. "Hopefully, she has something left in the tank for tomorrow."

Making their NCAA debuts, freshmen Kate Carr (Scituate Mass.) and Kimber Stannard (Higganum, Conn.) ran the first two legs of the DMR before handing off to veterans Gavin and Adams. It was the seventh All-America honor for Adams and the second for Gavin, who were both members of KSC national championship DMR squad in 2006.

In the men's field, both senior Kevin Kelleher (Rocky Hill, Conn.) and freshman Craig MacPherson qualified for Saturday's final in the mile. Competing in the same heat MacPherson placed fifth (4:17.56) and Kelleher was seventh (4:18.34). Kelleher earned All-America with a sixth place finish at last year's national meet.

"So far so good," said Thomas. "We have another big day coming up tomorrow."