Track & Field

Dilling, Rains Capture NCAA Titles 

Jim Dilling of the Minnesota State earned his second-consecutive national high jump title while teammate Kaitlin Rains set a new national record in winning the pole vault title at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. The meet was held in the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center in Boston, Mass.

Dilling cleared 7-feet, 4 1/2-inches to win the title, defeating second-place Keith Moffatt of Morehouse by 1 1/4-inches. Dilling is now a three-time NCAA champion in the high jump, capturing two indoor titles (2006, 2007) and one outdoor title (2005).  

Rains cleared a career-best 14-feet to win the pole vault Friday at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships. The second place finisher had a jump of 12-8 3/4.  

Rains is just the second Maverick to win a national title in MSU women's track and field history, as Amanda Frame is the only other NCAA champion after winning back-to-back indoor pole vault titles in 2004 and 2005. Rains' mark of 14-0 not only won the competition by 1-4 1/4 but broke the NCAA indoor meet record formerly held by Frame at 13-1 1/2.  

The NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships will conclude tomorrow at 7 p.m. Live meet results can be viewed at http://www.lancertiming.com/ncaa/events.htm, with event results posted shortly after the completion of each event.  

The Minnesota State men are the top NCC team in the standings after the five finals on Friday. The Mavericks are in third place. The Maverick women are also the top NCC women's team in sixth place with the 10 points earned by Rains.