Blamy Captures National Championship in High Jump

OSHKOSH, Wis. - For the second time this year Keene State's
Crystal Blamy is a national champion.
The senior from Walpole, N.H. won the high jump event at the NCAA
Division III Outdoor Track and Field Champions at University of
Wisconsin on Friday with a leap of 5'-7".
Blamy, who tied a J.J. Keller Field record with her jump, also won
the national indoor championship in the same event.
"It was scary at first," said KSC Coach Peter
Thomas. "She missed her first two jumps at the opening
height."
"I couldn't beleive it was happening," said Blamy, who was the top
seed in the event. "I looked over to Pete and he said "I know you
can do this."
Balmy regrouped, and hit her next jumps on the first try. Her
winning jump came on her second attempt. It was a sweet win for the
Blamy, who as a junior failed to reach the finals in the 2006
outdoor nationals. "I was having flashbacks to that meet", said
Blamy.
Following the same scenario as her indoor championship, Blamy had a
fight off a challenge from Lisa Shepherd, a sophomore from Richard
Stockton College. and Jessica Cooper, a senior from Westminster
College, who both posted marks of 5'-5.75."
"Once I hit 5'-7", I knew I had it," said Blamy. "It's a great
feeling to know you dominated the event in Division III the entire
year."
Blamy becomes the third athlete to win both indoor and outdoor
national championships in the same year since 1997. Nyhla Rothwell
of Wilminton College (1997), Kim Deprez of SUNY Geneseo (2003), and
Christyn Shumann of Trinity (TX)University (2005), also won double
titles in the same year.
The high-flying Blamy concludes her collegiate career with four
All-Americas and two national titles in the high jump. She earned
all but one All-America at KSC. Her first came as a freshman at
Wheaton College.
Making his first trip to the national meet, Bryan Kolacz failed to
reach the finals in the hammer throw. The only freshman in the
field, the Brentwood, N.H. native, finished seventh in his flight
with a toss of 163'-8".
"Bryan was a little nervous and didn't do as well as he have
liked," said Thomas. "He understands it's a growth experience and
will work hard to get back here next year."
Mark O'Connell, a senior from the University of St. Thomas won the
even with a throw of 191'.
In Saturday's final day of competition, senior Jennifer Adams
(Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) will run in the 5,000-meter race, junior
Samantha Hirsh (Holliston, Mass.) will compete in the javelin, and
freshman Craig MacPherson (Derry, N.H.) will run in the finals of
the 1,500.














Women's Outdoor Track

