INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The NCAA has announced the qualifiers for the Division II Track & Field National Championships today, and as expected, Kaylee Best made the field for both the triple jump and long jump events to become the first national qualifier in VU program history.  Best heads to Emporia, Kansas, and the Welch Stadium on the campus of Emporia State for the Championships, which run May 21-23.
 
"We're so proud of Kaylee for being our first-ever DII National qualifier," said Head Coach Bryan Wilkins.  "It's awesome that she'll be competing in both her specialty events, and we can't wait to see what happens in Kansas!"
 
Best has reset the school records for both events this year, with her long jump best being 6.25m (20' 6 ¼"), which was set at the Pacific West Conference Championships.  The lunge slotted her into fifth in the DII rankings, tied with Laniyah Curry of Oklahoma Christian.  If replicated, Best would be on track to earn All-American honors, as her top distance is within the top eight on TFRRS.  Two jumpers from Pittsburg State are in front of her, as Jazmine Williamson is in fourth with a 6.29m (20' 7 ¾") leap and Blakelee Winn is in third at 6.32m (20' 9").  Denis Hernandez of Lewis (Ill.) is in second at 6.39m (20' 11 ¾"), and Miranda Lauvstad of Minnesota State is the top distance holder at 6.58m (21', 7 ¼").
 
In the triple jump, Best collected another triumph at the PacWest event with a 12.42m (40' 9") vault that put her in 11th in the TFRRS rankings.  She is .02m ahead of Jhnyia Knuckles of Claflin (S.C., 12.40m, 40' 8 ¼") and just .01 behind Mackenzie Pringle of Lenoir-Rhyne (N.C., 12.43, 40' 9 ½").  The top eight have all cleared 12.59m (41' 3 ¾"), with eighth held by Lily Brown of Pittsburg State.  Janara Bryant of Mount Olive (N.C.) is the current favorite, being the only student-athlete to clear 13 meters this year with a distance of 13.37m (43' 10 ½"), set without any wind.  Best has some distance to make up to be an All-American, but with nine days to train, the coaches have a strong belief she can earn double All-American honors.