Schroll finishes 12th in nation in high jump

Senior Erika Schroll finished in 12th place in the high jump at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships on Friday at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark.

Schroll, the only CMU athlete to compete at the national meet, jumped a height of 5 feet, 10 inches to tie seven competitors for eighth place.

“Any time you get an athlete to perform at that high of a rate, being one of the best in the country, it’s a great achievement,” said track and field director Willie Randolph. “For someone to be at the national meet for the first time as a senior is something that requires a certain level of experience. It speaks volumes to finish 12th and just miss achieving national honors.”

In a jump-off to determine top 10 finishes for All-America honors, she placed fifth behind Alabama’s Krystle Schade, St. Johns’ Priscilla Frederick, East Carolina’s Tynita Butts and
Southern Mississippi’s Ke’Airra Jones, just missing national recognition.

“I’m not going to lie, I’m a little disappointed,” Schroll said. “But at the same time, I’m really honored to make it this far. Getting 12th, having that feeling, it’s very humbling.”

Schroll won her second consecutive Mid-American Conference title in the high jump at the MAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Feb. 27, breaking a school record with a height of 6-0 1/2. She was named Most Outstanding Field Performer for the weekend and led CMU to a second-place team finish.

Randolph said he is looking forward to her translating her indoor success to the outdoor season, which starts with the Raleigh Relays on March 26-27 in Raleigh, N.C.

“I think it’s going to light a fire inside of me for outdoors,” Schroll said. “I’m going to want it even more now because I know how close I got.”

CMU’s outdoor season starts March 26-27 at the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C.