May 22, 2008

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - A steady rain that fell for the morning and early afternoon did not overshadow the first day of competition at the NAIA Men's and Women's Outdoor Track and Field National Championship. The three-day event is being held at Ralph Korte Stadium in Edwardsville, Ill.

Repeat national champions were crowned in four different events on Thursday. Leading the way was senior Ruky Abdulai of Simon Fraser University (B.C.), who won her fourth consecutive NAIA women's long jump championship. Abdulai recorded a distance of 6.31 meters (20 feet, 8 ½ inches) to become just the third woman in NAIA history to win four straight titles in the same event. In addition, Abdulai matches Vivian Chukwuemeka of Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) with eight individual NAIA outdoor championships.

Azusa Pacific junior Aron Rono became the first male in NAIA championship history to win the 10,000-meter run three years in a row. Rono crossed the finish line with a final time of 29:56.17. Sophomore Elizabeth Gleadle from the University of British Columbia earned her second consecutive NAIA title in the women's javelin throw. Gleadle connected on a distance of 50.53 meters (165 feet, nine inches) to top her winning effort from a year ago of 49.29 meters (161 feet, eight inches).

Senior Meagan Bauer of Doane College (Neb.) edged Kelsey Aide of Dickinson State University (N.D.) and Rebecca Rospotynski of Malone College for first place in the women's pole vault. All three cleared a height of 3.60 meters (11 feet, 9 ¾ inches), but Bauer's effort came on her first attempt at the height.

On the men's side, senior Jeff Buller captured his second straight NAIA men's javelin title. Buller registered a throw of 65.43 meters (214 feet, eight inches) to get by runner-up Paul Roshau of Concordia University (Ore.), who posted a top throw of 64.89 meters (212 feet, 11 inches).