BOSTON (3/8/24) – Bradley Jelmert became the first Arkansas State men’s track and field athlete to medal at the NCAA Indoor Championships since 2017, taking silver in the men’s pole vault on Friday afternoon at The Track at New Balance.

The Watchung, N.J., native vaulted 5.65m (18-6.5) on his third attempt at the height after successfully clearing 5.40m (17-8.5) and 5.55m (18-2.5) on his first tries.

Jelmert is the first A-State men’s athlete to medal indoors since Jaylen Bacon in the 60 meters in 2017, and the first men’s pole vaulter to do so in an indoor championship since Craig Hagen 1987. His runner-up finish is the best by an A-State men’s pole vaulter since Kelly Riley finished second outdoors in 1990 and the highest indoors since Earl Bell took silver in 1977.

Colby Eddowes also competed on Friday, opening the men’s heptathlon with a strong start. The sophomore sensation opened with a time of 6.99 in the 60 meters, placing fifth. He moved up to third in the standings after two events, leaping 7.46m (24-5.75) for 925 points.

After a toss of 11.94m (39-2.25) in the shot put, Eddowes ended the day with a clearance of 2.06m (6-9) in the high jump portion to finish the first day in sixth with 3,273 points. The Canberra, Australia, native will end the heptathlon on Saturday, beginning at 9:30 a.m. CT.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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