Notre Dame vaulter leads area contingent at regionals

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Allen County products enjoyed great success this past weekend at the NCAA Division I Track and Field East Regionals in Jacksonville, Fla. The top 12 places in all events and relays advance to the NCAA Championships to be held June 6-9 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Long known for outstanding pole vaulters, the Fort Wayne area enhanced its reputation as Hunter Hall of Virginia Tech and Kevin Schipper of Notre Dame tied for title. Both cleared 17-feet-5.5 inches with the same number of misses. Hall is a Homestead graduate, Schipper a Bishop Dwenger graduate. Also competing in the event was Owen Wagoner of Samford (Carroll H.S.). Wagoner tied for 13th after clearing 17-3.5. Wagoner failed to advance based on misses.

Also advancing to nationals in the field events was Purdue's Leah Eber (Columbia City) who placed fourth in the women's long jump with a leap of 20-8.5.

Leo's Andy Bayer looks to add yet another NCAA all-America honor to his outstanding career at Indiana University. Bayer won his semi-final of the 1,500 in 3 minutes, 45 seconds to advance to the NCAA meet.

Another local distance star, North Carolina State's Bobby Moldovan (Northrop), placed fifth in his heat of the 5,000 in 14:03.

nssports@news-sentinel.com