TRACK & FIELD

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AUSTIN, TX - Senior track and field standout Laura Olson (Lyons, NY/Lyons) reached the end of her brilliant career on Friday night at the NCAA Track and Field Championships at Mike A. Myers Stadium at the University of Texas.

Olson finished 15th in the pole vault, going out at 12-9", ending a career that saw her qualify three times for NCAA competition, the most by a female athlete at the Division I level.

Laura Olson

Previously, Olson had finished 14th in March at the NCAA Indoor Championships and 13th at last year's outdoor competition.

"I'm sure Laura is very disappointed that she didn't advance further in the competition, but that doesn't take away from all of her tremendous accomplishments during her career," said UB women's coach Vicki Mitchell. Olson had set a new school record by clearing 13-5³/₄" at the NCAA Regionals at the University of Florida two weekends ago.

Olson was cruising along, having not missed at the first two heights, before bowing out at 12-9. UCLA's Chelsea Johnson won the competition easily, clearing 14-1¹/₄", nearly two inches better than her nearest competitor.

Elsewhere, senior Steve Esler (Rochester, NY/Aquinas) was 17th at the first day of competition in the decathlon. Esler, who was ranked 24th in the nation entering the event, was as high as 13th before the final event on Friday. He had the second best mark in the high jump (6-6³/₄") in the 25-man competition. The decathlon will conclude on Saturday with the 110-meter hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500 meters.