With a 10th place finish overall at the NCAA Outdoor Track andField Championships, senior track and field member Paul Panningearned All-American status for the second straight year.
At the event held in Austin, Texas, Panning finished with hissecond best vault of his career: 17 feet, 8 inches.
The top eight Americans earn All-American status and because twofinishers higher then Panning were international student-athletes,he was the last one given the honor.
Although Panning was hoping for a top five finish or highergoing into the contest, he said he couldn't complain.
"It was one of the most competitive meets in history," Panningsaid. "I feel privileged that I was in it with those guys."
Freshman Tommy Skipper from Oregon won the event with a vault of18 feet, 8 inches, almost a foot higher then the vault that won thecompetition last year. In the 83-year history of the event, onlytwo years did someone jump higher then 18 feet, 8 inches and thisis the fourth year 18 feet, 8 inches has won the competition.
"That field was just stacked, I mean stacked to high heaven,"assistant coach B.J. McKay said.
Panning realized during the preliminary trials, held onThursday, that the event was going to be competitive. The first baron Thursday was at 16 feet, 4 inches and Panning said his firstvault was one of his best ones this season, clearing the bar bymore then two feet. Only two competitors didn't make the firstbar.
The next bar was set at 16 feet, 10 inches and last season itwas the cut off point for who made it to finals. After Panning saw22 of the the 26 competitors still alive after the second bar, hesaid to himself, "Wow, this is going to be quite thecompetition."
Only 15 were able to make the next jump of 17 feet, 4 inches,which Panning got on his second attempt and the field was set forfinals day.
"In the prelims, he really lit it up," McKay said. "We werelike, 'Wow, we could really do something special today.'"
The finals began on Saturday, and with the first bar set at 16feet, 11 inches, Panning cleared it on the first attempt.
"I got the first one with no problem, smoked it pretty good,"Panning said.
Once again, though, most of the competitors continued to maketheir jumps; only three didn't clear the first bar.
"I could tell it was going to be a long and heated event,"Panning said.
McKay said normally a few athletes in the field end up makingmistakes, allowing others to take advantage and move up in therankings.
"I just kept thinking someone was going to slip up," McKaysaid.
The second bar of the day was set at 17 feet, 4 inches, andafter missing it on his first two attempts, Panning was forced toswitch poles for a do-or-die third attempt.
"The nerves were hitting me pretty good at that point," Panningsaid. "Midway through that run I just remember thinking, 'This willnot be the last vault.'"
It wasn't, but 11 of the 15 still remained alive. With the thirdbar at 17 feet, 8 inches, Panning once again missed on his firsttwo attempts, and it came down to the third.
"It was stressful again," Panning said. "It's kind of like youdon't want it to end."
This time he brushed the bar, but it didn't fall and whenPanning hit the mat he looked up to see the bar still there andscreamed in celebration.
The fourth bar was set at 18 feet, 1/2 inches. The height wasjust over an inch of Panning's personal best and school record,which he set at the NCAA Regionals two weekends ago.
Panning was unable to get the bar in his three attempts and fellshort of the 18 feet mark, something he and McKay had been hopingfor all season.
"It was a little disappointing," Panning said. "That's one ofthose marks every vaulter in his life looks to get.
"I just had to remind myself that I was almost out at 17 feet, 4inches," Panning said. "It just shows in your personality that youcan come through in stressful situations."
Panning placed eighth last season with a jump of 16 feet, 10 3/4inches to become the seventh All-American in track and fieldhistory and jumped almost a foot higher this season. .
"That I think says a lot about the competition compared to lastyear," Panning said. "It was almost a whole differentsituation."
For McKay, it was the end of something he was a part of as botha coach and competitor.
"I had a lot of high expectations, I think," McKay said. "Ithought that we could really make a run for the title.
"I just thought that would be the perfect Cinderella story."
The story still ends well, with three of the program's sevenAll-Americans coming in the last four years, including a pair oftwo-time All-Americans. Panning and Zach Riley in the hammer throware the only two-time All-Americans in the history of theprogram.
"That really says a lot of Ball State track and where we weregoing," McKay said. "That was just a glimpse."
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