As expected, Wally won the high jump last night, coming straight from basketball practice to the meet. He set the field house record at the Klotsche Center. Did anyone get a chance to go see him? Here is what was written about his winning jump from gomarquette.com:
"The highlight was Wally's big jump," Rogers added. "It was even more impressive as he came right over from hoops practice and then jumped so well."
Everyone had eyes on Wally Ellenson, who competed in the high jump for the first time in two weeks. The dual-sport athlete is a BIG EAST Championship hopeful in the even and he began his night by entering at 2.01 meters, clearing it with ease. He then cleared his next two heights on the first try before the bar was raised to 2.16 meters, which equated to slightly over 7 feet.
Ellenson watched as his two remaining competitors missed all three of their attempts at the height, while he needed just one try once again and broke the Klotsche Center record in the process. Having locked up the high jump title, the Rice Lake, Wisconsin native would attempt 7 feet, 3 inches (2.21 meters) and needed two attempts to clear the mark. He fell just shy of clearing 7 feet, 4.5 inches (2.26 meters), bumping the bar ever so slightly in each of his three attempts.
Ellenson remains tied for the national lead at 7 feet, 5.75 inches (2.28 meters), which he cleared at the Wisconsin Open back on Jan. 17, in Madison.