North Carolina
NCAA Indoor Championships
Smith Earns All-America Honors In Pole Vault
March 9, 2012 | Track & Field
March 9, 2012
NAMPA, Idaho- Senior Parker Smith earned All-America honors for the second time to lead the Tar Heels on the first day of competition Friday at the NCAA Division I Indoor Championships. The meet concludes Saturday as the Tar Heels compete in two more events at the Jacksons Indoor Track.
Smith cleared a personal-best height of 17-8 ½ to tie for eighth and earn First Team All-America honors for the second time in his career. Smith tied for fourth place with a height of 17-2 ¾ at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Freshman Andrew Irwin of Arkansas won the event after clearing 18-2 ½.
"What a meet for Parker," assistant head coach Josh Langley said. "He was the last vaulter to make the cut into the meet, but all that did was give him motivation. Time and time again Parker has shown why he is known as a clutch performer and can never be counted out.
"This is Parker's last meet as a collegiate athlete, and there is no better way to go out with a lifetime best and with First-Team All-America honors," Langley said.
Senior Tasha Stanley also competed for UNC in the women's 800. Stanley, who won the 800 at the ACC Indoor Championships last month, finished 14th today in a time of 2:08.17. Stanley's top-16 finish will earn her Second-Team All-America honors.
Saturday's competition for Carolina will feature sophomore Sandi Morris, who earned Second-Team All-America honors in 2011, in the women's pole vault. In addition, Stanley will join with seniors Danielle Brock, Elizabeth Mott and Zoey Russell for the women's 4x400 finals.
Follow live results on FlashResults.com. ESPN3 will stream the meet live from 8-11:15 p.m. ET, and a tape delay of the championships will air Sunday, March 18, at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
The meet will also be broadcast live online on NCAA.com from 12:30-8 p.m. ET. Stay tuned to TarHeelBlue.com for results and recaps from the second day of competition at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.
Players Mentioned
