Blamy Captures National Championship in the High Jump

OSHKOSH, WI.  5/23/08 - For the second time this year Keene State's Crystal Blamy is a national champion. 

The senior from Walpole, N.H. won the high jump event at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Champions at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Friday with a leap of 5'-7". 

Blamy, who tied a J.J. Keller Field record with her jump, also won the national indoor championship in the same event.

"It was scary at first," said KSC Coach Peter Thomas.  "She missed her first two jumps at the opening height."

"I couldn't beleive it was happening," said Blamy, who was the top seed in the event.  "I looked over to Pete and he said "I know you can do this."

Balmy regrouped, and hit her next jumps on the first try.  Her winning jump came on her second attempt.   It was a sweet win for the Blamy, who as a junior failed to reach the finals in the 2006 outdoor nationals. "I was having flashbacks to that meet", said Blamy. 

Following the same scenario as her indoor championship, Blamy had a fight off a challenge from Lisa Shepherd, a sophomore from Richard Stockton College. and Jessica Cooper, a senior from Westminster College, who both posted marks of 5'-5.75."

"Once I hit 5'-7", I knew I had it," said Blamy.  "It's a great feeling to know you dominated the event in Division III the entire year."

Blamy becomes the third athlete to win both indoor and outdoor national championships in the same year since 1997.  Nyhla Rothwell of Wilminton College (1997), Kim Deprez of SUNY Geneseo (2003), and Christyn Shumann of Trinity (TX)University (2005), also won double titles in the same year.   

The high-flying Blamy concludes her collegiate career with four All-Americas and two national titles in the high jump.  She earned all but one All-America at KSC.  Her first came as a freshman at Wheaton College.

Making his first trip to the national meet, Bryan Kolacz failed to reach the finals in the hammer throw.  The only freshman in the field, the Brentwood, N.H. native, finished seventh in his flight with a toss of 163'-8".

"Bryan was a little nervous and didn't do as well as he have liked," said Thomas.  "He understands it's a growth experience and will work hard to get back here next year."

Mark O'Connell, a senior from the University of St. Thomas won the even with a throw of 191'.

In Saturday's final day of competition, senior Jennifer Adams (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.) will run in the 5,000-meter race, junior Samantha Hirsh (Holliston, Mass.) will compete in the javelin, and freshman Craig MacPherson (Derry, N.H.) will run in the finals of the 1,500.