BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Graduate pole vaulter Joe Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley) captured the conference crown in the pole vault event, as the Kutztown University men's track & field team earned three other podium finishes on day one of the PSAC Indoor Championships at Lehigh on Sunday. The Golden Bears currently sit third with 28 points after day one.

Jardine had to earn his gold medal at the Rauch Fieldhouse, going into a jump-off against Slippery Rock's Dan Hyatt to determine first place. The Mohrsville native cleared the bar at 5.06m (16'7.25"), his best jump in the Maroon & Gold and the joint-second-best mark in program history. It was also another NCAA mark set by Jardine, who won all eight pole vault events he participated in this season. He is the fifth Golden Bear in program history to win the pole vault at the indoor championships and the first since Xavier Feliciano in 2020.

KU's other podium finishes came from Gabe Sample (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg), Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly), and the DMR squad. Sample finished third in the long jump with a mark of 7.12m (23'4.5"). Solonoski tossed 17.41m (57'1.5") in the weight throw for a third-place finish. It was the fifth-best throw in program history, as Solonoski improved upon his previous personal best of 17.37m. The DMR squad of Andrew Diehl (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle), Joe Cavalcante (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport), and Adam Brocato (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall) ran a blistering 10:18.22 time, which earned another third-place finish and was the fourth-fastest time in KU history. 

The Golden Bears also had a couple of qualifiers for Monday's finals. James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River) qualified in the 400m, while Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic) did the same in the 60m. Kyle Love (Lansdowne, Pa./Bonner-Prendergast) and Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton) will both compete on Monday in the 60m hurdle final after Love ran the third-fastest time in program history and Averett the 10th fastest. Fellin, Washburn, and Daron Haggans (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin) were the final qualifiers in the 200m, with Fellin's 22.35 being the fifth-best mark in KU history.

Slippery Rock currently sits in the team lead with 44.5 points, followed closely behind by Shippensburg with 43 points. Lock Haven trails KU in fourth with 18 points.

Day two of the PSAC Indoor Championships will take place on Monday, Feb. 19, with events taking place all day at Lehigh. 

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PSAC INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIP | BETHLEHEM, Pa.
KUTZTOWN MEN'S RESULTS | 3rd/11 (28 pts.)

Long Jump
3. Gabe Sample (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg), 7.12m (23'4.5")
11. Anthony DeFusco (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone), 6.67m (21'10.75")

DMR
3. Kutztown 'A' (Andrew Diehl (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle), Joe Cavalcante (Philadelphia, Pa./La Salle College H.S.), Port Habalar (Williamsport, Pa./South Williamsport), Adam Brocato (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall)), 10:18.22, 4th in KU History

Weight Throw
3. Jacob Solonoski (Weatherly, Pa./Weatherly), 17.41m (57'1.5"), 5th in KU History 
14. Anthony Helmstetter (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex), 13.95m (45'9.25")

Pole Vault
1. Joe Jardine (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), 5.06m (16'7.25"), NCAA Provisonal, T-2nd in KU history
9. Nate Schaeffer (Mohrsville, Pa./Schuylkill Valley), 4.46m (14'7.5")
15. Jason Mraz (Edison, N.J./Edison), 4.16m (13'7.75")

400m-Prelims
4. James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), 50.35 (q)
14. Steele Wrigley (Coatesville, Pa./Octorara), 51.48

60m-Prelims
5. Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), 6.92 (q)
9. Daron Haggans (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), 6.96

60m Hurdles-Prelims
5. Kyle Love (Lansdowne, Pa./Bonner-Prendergast), 8.35 (q), 3rd in KU History
7. Dekai Averett (Douglassville, Pa./Souderton), 8.48 (q), T-10th in KU History

5000m
20. Robby Lloyd (Newtown, Pa./Council Rock North), 16:01.63

200m
5. Michael Fellin (Sheppton, Pa./Marian Catholic), 22.35 (q), 6th in KU history
7. Daron Haggans (Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin), 22.53 (q)
8. James Washburn (Shoreham, N.Y./Shoreham-Wading River), 22.59 (q)