Keaton Daniel Wins First-Ever NCAA Championship On Friday
BOSTON, Ma. — Senior Keaton Daniel vaulted into history as he won his first-ever NCAA pole vault championship at the NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday in Boston, Massachusetts.
Daniel secured the first-ever NCAA pole vault championship for the Wildcats after beating out Arkansas State junior Bradley Jelmert through two heights for the gold medal. He adds a much sought-after gold medal to his portfolio already containing an NCAA outdoors silver and bronze medal earned in 2021 & 2022.
After both student-athletes cleared 18’6.50”/5.65 meters, Daniel cleared the next height at 18’8.25”/5.70 meters on his second attempt. Jelmert, who had two misses on the height, opted to forgo his final attempt and move to a final attempt at the next height. He fouled on his only attempt at 18’10.25”/5.75 meters, awarding Daniel the victory and his first gold medal.
The victory comes after Daniel, who has been receiving votes on The Bowerman watchlist, won his second Southeastern Conference Indoor title and fifth overall SEC gold medal at the SEC Indoor Championships two weeks ago. He has led the country since January 20th when he set a new Kentucky school record at the Corky Classic clearing 19’0.25”/5.80 meters.
FINALS RECAP
JUMPS & MULTIS
PENTATHLON
WOMEN – Senior Charity Hufnagel finished 11th in the pentathlon with 4,059 points. Her best event of the day came in the high jump where she placed second with a mark of 5’10”/1.78 meters earning 953 points. She set a new personal best of 40’11.50”/12.48m in the shot put to finish fifth earning 693 points.
POLE VAULT
MEN – Senior Keaton Daniel won his first NCAA Championship and first-ever pole vault title for the Wildcats after clearing 18’8.25”/5.70 meters.
THROWS
WEIGHT THROW
MEN – Senior Dennis Ohene-Adu placed 15th with a throw of 70’0.50”/21.35m in his NCAA Championships debut on Thursday.
The men’s team finishes the first day of competition with 10 points and Kentucky Track & Field will conclude the NCAA Indoor Championships tomorrow.
Event Results
| NCAA Indoor Championships: Thursday, March 7: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME | |||
| Men’s Weight Throw | Prelim/FINAL | 15. Dennis Ohene-Adu: 70’0.50”/21.35m | |
| NCAA Indoor Championships: Friday, March 8: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME | ||||
| Pent. 60mH | 9:50 a.m. | FINAL | 14. Charity Hufnagel: 8.91 | 929 pts. | |
| Pent. High Jump | 11:00 a.m. | FINAL | 2. Charity Hufnagel: 5’10”/1.78m | 953 pts. | |
| Pent. Shot Put | 1:00 p.m. | FINAL | 5. Charity Hufnagel: 40’11.50”/12.48m | PB | 693 pts. | |
| Pent. Long Jump | 2:15 p.m. | FINAL | 14. Charity Hufnagel: 18’3.25”/5.57m | 720 pts. | |
| Pent. 800m | 3:40 p.m. | FINAL | 13. Charity Hufnagel: 2:24.47 | 764 pts. | |
| Pent. Women’s Final Results | 11. Charity Hufnagel: 4059 pts. | |||
| NCAA Indoor Championships: Friday, March 8: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME | |||
| Men’s Pole Vault | 2:00 p.m. | FINAL | 1. Keaton Daniel: 18’8.25”/5.70m | 10 pts. |
| Men’s 200m | 5:40 p.m. | Semifinal | 14. Kennedy Lightner: 20.92 |
Event Lineup (all info tentative and subject to change before the meet)
| NCAA Indoor Championships: Saturday, March 9: ALL TIMES IN EASTERN TIME | |||
| Women’s High Jump | 1:00 p.m. | Prelim/FINAL | Charity Hufnagel |
| Men’s Triple Jump | 3:30 p.m. | Prelim/FINAL | Luke Brown |
Follow Kentucky Track and Field and Cross Country on Facebook, Instagram, X, and at UKathletics.com.
