ND grad sets vault record at Southeast

~ Jill Schnurbusch established the new school mark at the Mississippi Open

Jill Schnurbusch has made steady improvement in the pole vault since she joined the Southeast Missouri State track and field program.

Schnurbusch, a sophomore from Cape Girardeau who attended Notre Dame Regional High School, literally took that improvement to new heights Saturday as she broke the school record during the Mississippi Open in Oxford, Miss.

Schnurbusch cleared 12 feet, 2 1/2 inches to finish fifth at the event hosted by the University of Mississippi. She shattered the previous school mark, Michele Jett's 11-11 3/4 in 2005, by nearly three inches.

"It was a good day," Schnurbusch said. "I've been improving a lot. We've been working on it all year."

Schnurbusch, who previously ranked fourth on Southeast's all-time pole-vault list, has had her sights set on the record and was confident she would pull it off some time this year.

"I've been thinking about it for a while," she said. "I've been pretty sure it would happen."

Schnurbusch has been a solid performer since coming to Southeast. She was fourth at this year's Ohio Valley Conference indoor meet after placing fifth at the OVC outdoor as a freshman.

"She's really gotten better the last two years. She continues to improve," Southeast coach Eric Crumpecker said.

What transpired Saturday figures to give Schnurbusch plenty of confidence as she shoots for an OVC title during next week's outdoor meet.

"It lets you know you can do it," said Schnurbusch, who also competes in the high jump.

Schnurbusch placed third in the pole vault at the state meet as a Notre Dame senior while setting the school record with a mark of 10-6. She also established the school record in the high jump.

Schnurbusch originally attended Murray State after graduating from Notre Dame but didn't stay there long before deciding to return to Cape Girardeau.

"She called me up one day and said she wanted to come back home," Crumpecker said. "We were excited to have her. We've had so many athletes from this area do well."

Schnurbusch has relished her decision.

"It's so much fun," she said of competing for her home town university. "My family can come to meets and friends know how you're doing."

Southeast wins two

Southeast athletes won two titles and had 28 top-10 finishes at the Mississippi Open, which featured more than 15 teams, including four Southeastern Conference squads.

Southeast's men were led by senior Brandon Colbert. He won his second straight title in the hammer throw with a toss of 204 feet, just off his school record.

Sophomore Craig Robinson was third in the shot put (54-4 1/2), setting a personal best.

Senior Josh Uchtman was fourth in both the shot put (53-11) and discus (155-9).

Senior Tyler Terry, a Central High School graduate, was fourth in the long jump (23-11). He was also seventh in the triple jump (45-8).

Rounding out the top-five men's placers were sophomore Jared Siemers from Central (fifth in the hammer throw, 163-4), senior Ed Draper (fifth in the javelin, 182-1) and freshman Brent Collins (fifth in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, 9:52.45).

Senior Samantha Espiricueta continued her dominance in the women's javelin, winning her fourth straight title and fifth in six outdoor meets with a throw of 150-10.

The women's 400 and 1,600 relay squads both placed fourth.

Senior Brianna Egbuka from Central was sixth in the shot put (44-8 1/4) and seventh in the hammer throw (161-5).

Sophomore Nikki Buchheit had a career-best 11-8 1/2 in the pole vault, which ranks fourth on the school's all-time list. She was ninth.

A select number of Southeast athletes will compete in the prestigious Drake Relays Thursday through Saturday.