BROOKINGS, S. D. – A field of the best pole vaulters in the NAIA competed Friday in the 2022 NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championship. Amongst the best in the country was Jessup's Rachel Travis, who had a day she will never forget.
 
Travis' efforts in competition Friday have earned her a spot on the NAIA All-American list, the first of her Track & Field career.

"Our goal is always to compete at our best when it matters most and today Rachel executed that mindset perfectly," said head coach Jeff Magley. "Capitalizing on her experience from Outdoor Nationals last year she was able to stay focused today and execute under pressure. Hats of to both Coach Kent and Rachel as they put in a great two weeks of preparation for this meet."
 
It's the third season in a row that the Warriors return from the Indoor National Championship with an All-American. Bailey Cossentine was named an Indoor All-American a season ago. It's the third Indoor All-American in program history, as Vendela Williams earned the honor in 2020.

"Very exciting for Rachel to be Jessup's third consecutive Indoor All-American and to do it with a new school record and lifetime PR makes standing on the podium all the more sweet," added Magley.
 
Travis qualified for Nationals with a vault of 3.52m at the Soka Indoor Qualifier. The mark was a new personal record for Travis and set the Jessup Indoor Track & Field record.
 
Friday saw Travis top her own record as she finished with a vault of 3.67m, placing her in sixth place in the 25-athlete field. Not only does the mark set a new Indoor PR for Travis, but it also tops her best mark in outdoor competition of 3.57m.

Magley concluded, saying, "Rachel did a great job managing a very tough competition today.  With 25 girls in the competition that lasted 3.5 hours she handled the mental game very well today to compete against the best girls in the country."
 
The top eight finishers in each event at the NAIA National Championship earn a spot on the All-American team.
 
Friday was the lone day of competition for Travis in South Dakota. She will now return home and continue working towards qualifying for her second-consecutive NAIA Outdoor National Championship.
 
The 2022 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship will take place May 25 – 27 from Gulf Shores, AL.
   
William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).