Freshman pole vaulter Jack Sauder reached a height of 4.13 meters (13 feet, 6 ½ inches) on his first attempt and that was enough to finish seventh in his event during the NJCAA Indoor Championship, held Friday afternoon in Topeka, Kan.
 
Sauder, a Clarendon Hills native, qualified for the event in the first meet of the year, reaching 4.4 m (14-5 ¼).
 
Sauder's decision not to pass on the opening height turned out to be a wise one. Three of the 17 competitors passed on the opening height, and then failed to successfully reach the next height at 4.28 m (14-0 ½). Five athletes failed to clear 4.13, and that created a medal finish for the Chaparral.
 
Sauder is the first Chap to place at the indoor nationals since 2021 when pole vaulter Brendan Hill placed sixth.
 
Lilian Buzani competed in the 3,000 and finished 12^th in 11 minutes, 3.31 seconds.