Senior pole vaulter finishes 19th in the nation –EUGENE, Ore. (EMUEagles.com)—Eastern Michigan University’s men’s track and field team saw one representative in action on the first day of the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, as senior Max Babits (Howell, Mich.-Fowlerville) capped off his EMU pole vault career on the national stage.
Babits cleared the initial bar set at 5.10 meters/16 feet 8.75-inches on his first attempt, putting him in the top portion of athletes early on in the competition. The senior chose to pass on his attempts at 5.25 meters/17 feet 2.75-inches and move on to 5.40 meters/17 feet 8.50-inches, which would break his current EMU record. Unfortunately, Babits was unable to clear the bar in his three attempts, falling into a tie for 19th.
The pole vault crown was handed to Mississipi’s Sam Kendricks, who cleared a final height of 5.70 meters/18 feet 8.25-inches in a head-to-head battle with Mid-American Conference champion Shawn Barber of Akron, who claimed runner-up.
With the completion of the championship round of the pole vault, Babits goes down as the most successful pole vaulter in EMU history. The Howell, Mich. native holds the record both indoor and outdoor, and is the only Eagle to have cleared the 18-foot barrier. more
