By: by Scott Lipsky
Final Results
EUGENE, Ore. - Kennesaw State high jumper Jerome McKinzie cleared a height of 2.05 meters (6'8.75") on his second attempt, but was eliminated when he missed out on three consecutive tries at the 2.10 meter height to place 22nd in the high jump at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Friday.
McKinzie, who is the reigning Atlantic Sun Conference champion in the high jump, was the first student-athlete in the history of Kennesaw State Track and Field to qualify for an NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field national final, which he did by way of finishing in the top-12 at the East Preliminary Round in Greensboro, N.C. on May 28. His top clearing jump in Greensboro was 2.11 meters (6'11") and he currently holds the outdoor program record with a top clearing jump of 2.15 meters (7'0.5").
"There's really no way to explain it, I just didn't get going today," McKinzie said. "I felt really good heading into the event, and I was pumped up and ready to go. I gave it my best effort, though, and look forward to being back in this position next year."
This was the first season that Kennesaw State student-athletes were eligible to compete in all NCAA Division I national championships, as the athletic department just completed the NCAA's mandatory, four-year Division I re-classification process in July of 2009.
McKinzie also competed in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., in March, finishing 17th.
Indiana's Derek Drouin took home the national high jump title on Friday with a top clearing height of 2.26 meters (7'5"). He also won the NCAA Indoor title with a clearing jump of 2.28 meters.
