Junior Sam Kendricks and freshman Jalen Miller of the 25th-ranked Ole Miss Rebels will be among the world-class field of athletes participating at the 2014 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships March 14-15 in Albuquerque, N.M.
The NCAA announced on Tuesday night the top 16 ranked men’s and women’s athletes and relays in each event category as qualifiers for the national meet, pending notification of medical scratches.
Kendricks, the No. 1 pole vaulter in the NCAA and U.S., is coming off an SEC title at last weekend’s conference meet in College Station, Texas. The Oxford, Miss., native will look to win his second straight national title after claiming the event at last year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Currently ranked 14th in the world, Kendricks owns a season-best and school-record clearance of 18-8.25 from the Don Kirby Elite Invitational (Feb. 14) at the same Albuquerque Convention Center at which he will compete for the national title. In six 2013-14 indoor meets, he has broken five meet records and two facility records and eclipsed 18 feet five times. He is undefeated in collegiate pole vault competitions since he won last year’s NCAA outdoor title.
Kendricks earned first team All-America honors after finishing third at last year’s NCAA indoor meet. more
