Zarembski Clears NCAA Qualifying Mark at Polar Bear Invite

MARION, Ind. – Brad Zarembski provisionally qualified for the 2009 NCAA Championships in the high jump for the third consecutive year, headlining Defiance College's list of impressive performances at the Polar Bear Invitational. 

The Jackets were forced to battle through adverse weather conditions at the meet, which did not record team results.

Zarembski claimed the high jump crown, clearing a personal-best 6-08.75. The junior, who narrowly missed at 6-10, tops the HCAC this outdoor season. The Toledo, Ohio native has now provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in each of two indoor and three outdoor seasons.

Fresh off his HCAC Athlete-of-the-Week honors, Blake Witherspoon did not miss a beat. The freshman sprinter ran a season-best time of 22.16 in the 200m dash, ranking him second on DC's all-time list. Witherspoon also finished eighth in his first 400m of the year, crossing the line in 53.06.

Fellow frosh Justin Perkins also impressed in his 3000m steeplechase debut. The Fairview High School product finished second with a blazing time of 9:56.36.

Austin Trivett grabbed a trio of top-six finishes at the meet, highlighted by his third-place performance in the javelin (149-03). The sophomore also garnered fourth-place honors in the pole vault, while finishing sixth in the long jump. Jordan Weber and Kyle Longsdorf were the only other Jackets to finish in the top eight, as Weber was fifth in the triple jump and Longsdorf seventh in the pole vault.

Holly Stein led the women, earning one of DC's three individual titles at the meet. The sophomore won the javelin with a toss of 114-00, while also finishing sixth in the discus (107-10).

Kaitlin Switzer garnered DC's other event crown, winning the 3000m steeplechase by nearly a minute in her first try at the event. The Defiance High School product currently tops the HCAC performance list in the event, after completing the race in 12:19.83.

Reigning HCAC Athlete of the Week, Marlea Rolander, garnered third-place honors in the 100m hurdles. The freshman, who has the fastest time in the HCAC this season, crossed the line in 16.04. Kelly Neff set a personal-record in the 10,000m, finishing fifth with a time of 46:09.47.

Alex Thiel and Bria Gendron each cleared 4-07 to tie for fifth in the women's high jump, while Emily Cole cleared 8-06.25 on her way to fifth-place honors in the pole vault. Kristin Goldstein finished sixth in the 100m dash, second among NCAA Div. III athletes, crossing the line in 13.40.

Amanda Tooley edged teammate Samantha Higdon in the hammer throw, as the two finished seventh and eighth respectively. Higdon was also fifth in the discus with a personal-best toss of 110-02, while Laura Derov recorded a throw of 95-02 to finish sixth in the javelin.

The Jackets will be back in action next weekend, April 4, when they compete in the Manchester Invitational. Events are set to get underway at 10:00 a.m.