BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – Kandie Bloch-Jones wrapped up the indoor portion of her junior year with a tie for 12th place at NCAA Championships this season. The junior high jumper cleared the opening bar of 5'91/4" (1.76m), but was unable to do the same at 5'111/4" (1.81m).
"Kandie is an experienced athlete now, we're in our third year, so there are things we worked on all year that we wanted to have expressed here today that would have led to being an All-American," said Head Coach Ron Garner. "I'm disappointed with the outcome, and so we have to go back and we both have to commit to getting those things because they have been designed based on her qualities."
Bloch-Jones made her second appearance at Indoor NCAA Championships this afternoon after placing 13th at the meet two years ago. Today, after missing on her first attempt to open the competition, the Illini junior cleared the 1.76m bar on her second attempt. However, with the bar raised to 1.81m, she was unable to clear the bar on her three attempts.
However, Coach Garner also expressed the need to recognize, and not overlook, the success and hard work that it took to get to this meet.
"We have to keep all of this in perspective, this is an international meet. There's sixteen young people in each event are, three-hundred and some schools, and it's an honor to be here."
Bloch-Jones and the rest of the Fighting Illini will now turn their efforts to the outdoor season. For Bloch-Jones, she will look to improve upon her sophomore outdoor season where she cleared a personal-best 6'01/2" (1.84m) and qualified for the NCAA West Regional. The Orange & Blue begin their outdoor slate next Friday, March 18, in Tempe, Arizona at the Baldy Castillo Invite.
"We have to get some more people in the future at [NCAA Championships]," explained Garner. "Nicole Choquette missed out on coming here, but there are several others. I see us improving and being able to compete at this meet. It's a long year, it's not the end of the road, and we'll build off both the positive and negative {of the indoor season.]"
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