June 10, 2011

RESULTS

Barbiasz in Baltimore Sun

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DES MOINES, Iowa -

Dwight Barbiasz finished fifth in the men's high jump Friday at the 2011 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Drake Stadium.

The Terrapin junior cleared 7 feet, 2-1/2 inches to earn fifth place and put himself in position to earn All-America status for the second time this season. Announcements from the U.S. Track & Field-Cross Country Coaches Association on All-America awards is expected Monday. "He competed well," said Maryland head coach Andrew Valmon. "He was the first jumper and there were rain delays. Anytime you have different circumstances it can get to you. "But he had excellent focus and competed well. He beat a lot of guys who had some better marks this season." Frank Costello, the assistant coach who is Barbiasz's main mentor in the high jump, agreed that it was a solid outing. "Lots of guys had issues with the conditions," said Costello. "I think to get to the next level, Dwight will try to get stronger. His technique is almost there, with just some minor adjustments that we need to make."

Barbiasz was clean through the first four heights: 6-8 3/4, 6-10 3/4, 7-0 1/4 and 7-1 1/2. He was one of only two competitors who had no misses through 7-1 1/2 and was one of only five jumpers over at 7-1 1/2.

He made his final height on his second attempt, with the other four clearing on their first. That moved Barbiasz to fifth place.

Only two competitors made the next bar at 7-3 1/4, setting up a duel between Kansas State's Erik Kynard and Ricky Robertson of Ole Miss. Kynard eventually won the duel at 7-6, with both jumpers also making 7-5. Barbiasz's effort gave Maryland four team points, which earned a tie for 46th among the 71 men's teams that scored in the meet.

It was Barbiasz's fifth time this season in which he posted a jump better than seven feet. His season-best of 7-3 3/4 came at the UCF Invitational.

Barbiasz, who also won the Atlantic Coast Conference outdoor title this season, tied for fourth at this year's NCAA Indoor Nationals. He will be an All-American for the third time in his career, having also earned a top-eight finish as a freshman at the NCAA Indoor.

He is Maryland's first multi-time All-American in the men's high jump since Costello earned four honors in the mid-1960s.