After taking second place a year ago, Binghamton University’s Rory Quiller could very well be the favorite in the pole vault tonight at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, held at the University at Arkansas, but that’s not a guarantee.
“He might be the favorite going in, I don’t think it would be incorrect to say that,” said BU track and field head coach Mike Thompson. “But the Giants won this year and they should have had no chance. All these other guys have a chance, they’re all pretty close … it’s not like Rory’s a foot better than everybody.”
Quiller, a five-time NCAA qualifier and two-time All-American, took second place at the event last year with a jump of 18 1/2.
At the time, that was the highest he had ever jumped. But recently, Quiller has been setting personal records every time out. He won the ECAC/IC4A title last Friday with a jump of 18-6 1/2, his current best, and the highest mark in the Division I pole vault this season.
That broke the mark he had set on Feb. 23 at the U.S. Indoor National Track & Field Championships on, 18-4 1/2. Quiller was bested there by only Brad Walker, the current world champion.
And it might take another record-setting jump for Quiller to finish first tonight.
“I really think it’s going to take like an 18-8 jump to win,” Quiller said. “Somebody’s going to have to PR to win it … it’ll be a slugfest.”
The top four competitors behind Quiller are Graeme Hoste of Stanford, Jordan Scott of Kansas, Mitch Greeley of Clemson and Matt Weirich of Brigham Young. All of them are seniors except for Scott, who is a sophomore. Hoste’s high jump of the season is 18-4 3/4, Scott’s is 18-2 1/2 and Greeley’s is 18-1, according to Thompson.
“A lot of those guys are younger than me and they have actual international experience and they’ve been jumping high just as long as I have,” Quiller said. “For me to say I’m the crafty veteran, a little incorrect.”
The championship will mark Quiller’s last competition as a Bearcat, with his eligibility expiring at the conclusion of the indoor season. He will continue to practice with the Bearcats in preparation for the U.S. Olympic Trials, scheduled to be held in Eugene, Ore., from June 27-July 6.
Quiller has already met the provisional standard of 18 1/2, and currently has the 12th best jump of eligible athletes, according to Thompson.
Quiller could guarantee himself a spot at the trials by reaching the automatic standard of 18-8 1/4 — about what he estimated it would take to place first at nationals. The top 24 who reach or exceed the provisional mark attend.
The men’s pole vault is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. It can be viewed live at bubearcats.com.
All in the Family: In the same week that Rory Quiller will make his final jump as a Bearcat, it was announced that his younger brother Robb would be joining the team next season.
The Binghamton track and field team announced the signing of four athletes for the 2008-09 season: Robb Quiller of West Point, N.Y., Eric VanAernam of Gardiner, N.Y., Samantha Howell of Vestal and Jessica Conter of Glendale, N.Y.
This past weekend, Quiller captured the pole vault at the New York State Indoor championships with a jump of 16-1. He is the current Section IX champion and record-holder in the event.
VanAernam is also a pole vaulter, while Howell is a sprinter and Conter competes in sprints, jumps and hurdles.