Natalie Willer Vaults To Another AJR At Drake Relays

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Willer Vaults To Another AJR At Drake Relays

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, April 24, 2009

Jeremy Foote, Nebraska Media Relations

Willer Breaks American Junior Record at Drake Relays

Des Moines, Iowa – Sophomore Natalie Willer thrilled the crowd on Friday afternoon at the 100h Anniversary of the Drake Relays as she broke the American Junior, Drake Relays and University of Nebraska outdoor school records with a nation-leading jump of 14-3 1/2 in the women’s pole vault.



Willer entered the meet at 12-7 1/2, clearing three consecutive bars on her first attempt. After taking two attempts at 13-9 1/4, Willer got back in her groove as she cleared 14-1 1/4 on her first jump, leaving her and 2004 U.S. Olympian Jillian Schwartz as the only vaulters left out of the 29 athlete field.

After Schwartz missed on all three attempts at 14-3 1/2 and only one attempt remaining for Willer, the Husker sophomore waited for just the right conditions before sprinting down the runway to her record-breaking vault. Willer finished the meet with three close attempts at 14-8, which would have been one-quarter inch short of the World Junior record of 14-8 1/4, set by Germany’s Silke Spiegelbug in 2005.

“This is such a prestigious event that’s been around for 100 years,” Willer said. “I am really proud to be able to call myself a Drake Relays champion. I’ve got my eyes set on reaching 4.50 meters (14-9) this season. By the way I’ve been progressing lately I think it’s definitely within sight.”