[Women's Outdoor Track & Field] Schindler Takes 3rd in NAIA Pole Vault

Doane University women's track and field athlete Courtney Schindler (JR/Norfolk, Neb.) claimed a Third Place finish in the pole vault on Thursday afternoon during the opening day of the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Schindler is the first women's pole vault athlete to earn All-American honors since Meagan Bauer won the 2008 national championship.

Schindler had been in a little slump as a of late. She posted a NAIA national qualifying mark in each of the opening two meets this outdoor season in April when she posted a height of 3.60m (11-09.75). However, over the last month she had not surpassed 3.50m including a no-height finish at the conference championship meet to open the month of May.

On Thursday, she cleared a person-best height of 3.70m (12-01.50). The mark also ranks second best on the Doane charts. Schindler becomes the fifth women's All-American in the outdoor pole vault in the program's history. Jessica Caruso and Stacey Johnson first achieved the feat in 2002. Megan Harrington joined the list in 2004 with Bauer earning her first in 2005. Bauer was a four-time All-American in the event with Caruso and Harrington doing so twice.

Schindler's finish earns Doane their first points of the meet with six. Five of the 25 events have been decided on the women's side and Doane currently sits in 14th Place with two days to go in Alabama.