Blamy Jumps to National Championship

KEENE, N.H., 5/27/08 - Keene State’s Crystal Blamy is a national champion again.

The senior from Walpole, N.H., earned that distinction by winning the high jump at the NCAA Division III Track and Field Championships this past weekend at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Blamy’s jump of 5’-7” tied the J. J. Keller Field record.

“Once I hit 5’-7”, I knew I had it,” said Blamy, who also claimed the indoor championship in the high jump. “It’s a great feeling to know you dominated the event in Division III the entire year.”

Blamy becomes the third Division III athlete to win both indoor and outdoor championships since 1997 in the same year.

Jennifer Adams wrapped up her KSC track career in style by finishing second in the 10K race (35:45.41) and placing third in the 5K (16:54.79).

Adams, a senior from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., completed her Owl running career with two national championships and 10 All-Americas.

Samantha Hirsh also returned from the nationals with All-America honors. The junior from Holliston, Mass., placed fourth in the javelin with a throw of 147 feet, breaking her own KSC record.

Sophomore Frank Radlof (long jump) and freshmen Craig MacPherson (1,500) and Bryan Kolacz (hammer) also competed in their respective events at the NCAA championships.

Blamy will be featured on WMUR-TV’s hometown hero segment on Thursday, and Hirsh will be spotlighted in Sunday’s Boston Globe - West edition.