Kalsey finishes 3rd at indoor nationals
Marissa Kalsey was hoping to reach the top step of the podium at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field after successive second-place finishes, but it wasn’t to be.
The Westminster College senior cleared 3.90 meters (12-9½) Friday afternoon to finish third for her fourth indoor All-America honor and seventh overall.
Kalsey is only one of four Division III female vaulters to be All-America all four years after a fifth-place finish as a freshman and back-to-back second-place finishes.
The meet started on the right foot for the Waynesburg Central graduate as she needed only one vault to clear her opening height of 3.80 meters (12-5). With only seven vaulters remaining, Kalsey was assured of her fourth All-America honor.
“It was a pretty easy jump. I did everything pretty well on that jump,” explained Kalsey. “I wanted to get that first, first. The first thing we go for is All-America. I was excited to get over that bar.”
Kalsey passed at 3.85 meters (12-7), saying, “I knew if I could get 12-7, I could get 12-9. I knew I wanted it to be a good day, so I wanted to save some jumps.”
Things weren’t quite as smooth at 3.90 meters (12-9) with two opening misses.
“I came up short. I didn’t press out as well,” Kalsey said of the reason she didn’t clear the bar. “I was trying to jump for the height. I tried to relax, take deep breaths.”
Kalsey cleared the bar on her third attempt to guarantee a top-three finish.
“(The final vault at 12-9½) was more like the first one,” explained Kalsey.
The next height for MIT’s Cimran Virdi, Ithaca sophomore Katherine Pitman and Kalsey was 3.95 meters (12-11).
Virdi needed just one attempt to clear on her way to successfully defending her two-time national title. Pitman needed two vaults to clear.
Unfortunately, Kalsey was unable to get over the bar in her three attempts.
“I missed the same way each time. I tried to rush through it again,” said Kalsey. “I’m over and hit it on the way down. I hit them pretty hard on the way down.”
Virdi set the facility record with her winning vault of 4.13 meters (13-6½). She passed at 4.15 meters before going out at 4.22 meters.
Pitman went out at 4.0 meters for second place.
Kalsey was still wondering what might’ve — and could’ve — been at her final indoor national meet.
“I know I have the potential, but it’s frustrating. I’m frustrated right now. I think I need to take a little break,” said Kalsey. “We have a meet next Saturday at Juniata. I think I might take the weekend off. Not from working out, just take the weekend off from vaulting to regroup.
“Psychologically, I need to take a break.”
Once the break is over, Kalsey has her sights set high for the outdoor season.
“Outdoors is a lot different. I helps to take a break,” said Kalsey. “Outdoors does seem like another season. It takes awhile to get used to outdoors.
“There’s the weather and the wind. Obviously, a tailwind is nice. Your eyes perceive things differently.
“It feels like I’m starting over. It takes awhile to get it there.”
When she gets it there, Kalsey knows where she wants to be.
“I’m looking to get a national title. The cherry on top is getting the national record.”
Cassidy Shepherd also earned a spot on the podium, finishing seventh with a top vault of 12-5½. Kalsey was very happy for her teammate’s accomplishment.
“She did great. That was awesome. I’m so excited for her. She works so hard and deserved that,” praised Kalsey. “It’s nice to have someone there to help me out. She knows me so well.”
Kalsey also had kind words for her vault coach, fellow Waynesburg grad Bradi Rhoades. Rhoades was honored this past week as the 2016 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Mideast Women’s Assistant Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
“I’m super excited for him. He deserves that honor,” said Kalsey.