Meet Results

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Fighting Illini women's track and field pole vaulter Stephanie Richartz represented the Orange and Blue at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday. Richartz finished third in the pole vault to earn first-team All-America honors for the second time in her career.

"Stephanie had a huge day today," said head coach Ron Garner. "The way she competed and cleared the bars was a great example of the determination she has displayed to overcome the challenges she has faced in her career. She was right in the mix through the end. She and Bryan Carrel have done a great job, not only this season, but throughout her entire career. She gave her best effort today, and I have come to expect nothing less than that from her."

Richartz entered the weekend tied for third in the country in the event. She kept her pre-championship rank with a school-record clearance of 4.45m (14' 7.25"), earning the highest finish by an Illini pole vaulter in NCAA Indoor Championships history.

"The way Stephanie got to today's result was not the way we expected," said pole vault coach Bryan Carrel. "We had to scrap our plan pretty early, but she displayed a toughness and grittiness that you need to have in order to compete for a national title. It was just an amazing competition, and she ended the indoor season with a bang."

Richartz and the rest of her teammates will now head right into the outdoor season. Illinois travels to Tempe, Arizona for the Baldy Castillo Invitational on March 20-21.

"I am very happy with my performance today," proclaimed Richartz. "It was not flawless. It was definitely a battle. It took everything in me to continue to hit the marks I needed to in order to stay in the competition today. This performance gives me a lot of confidence heading into the outdoor season."

NCAA Indoor Championships Results

Pole Vault
3. Stephanie Richartz - 4.45m (14' 7.25")