Video: Kieran Showler-Davis Interview
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – It was the final opportunity for the senior pole vaulter to get a crack at the All-America honor. Tori Gaul completed that feat in her final meet with the Eagles after garnering a 10th-place finish in the pole vault at the 2018 NCAA Division II Track & Field Championships.
Gaul came away with second-team All-America honors in the pole vault for the Eagles after clearing 3.75 meters on day one of the championships.
The native of Charlotte is the only female in the history of the program in the Division II era to earn All-America status.
"I have worked four years to get it and its amazing feeling that I could finally pull it together on the last go-round," Gaul stated. "There were a couple things I could have done better consistency wise but I'm happy with my performance. It's definitely an amazing feeling to be cheered on by your family and friends in your hometown."
�� The first @CN_Track All-American from the 2018 NCAA Championships goes to @tori_gaul in the pole vault! pic.twitter.com/vtWP0PESDo
— C-N Athletics (@CNathletics) May 24, 2018
Kieran Showler-Davis' weekend will continue as he earned himself a spot in the 100-meter finals on Saturday after placing first in his heat and third-overall during the prelim sprints this afternoon, recording a time of 10.42 seconds.
"I just wanted to go out there and execute," Showler-Davis explained. "My dad and all the coaches were just saying to run my race and all my times had been pretty consistent. It came together today, and been waiting years to make it through to the final."
Boom! @Showler_Davis comes in at third overall in the prelims and he'll compete in the finals on Saturday with a shot at a national championship.
— C-N Athletics (@CNathletics) May 24, 2018
The finals are slated for Saturday afternoon around 5:00 p.m. from the Irwin Belk Complex at Johnson C. Smith.
"It was a really, really good day for us," Coach David Needs stated. "To have Tori go out the way she did was incredible and to have Kieran racing in the finals is awesome. I couldn't ask for more from them."
Tanner Stepp will be the lone Eagle to compete on day two of the championships as he'll look to defend the high jump title which is set for a 3:30 p.m. start.
