NAPERVILLE, Ill. — Marietta College sophomore High Jump specialist Zach Gay (Elyria/Oberlin) took advantage of his final opportunity to improve his provisional mark for the 2009 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship, which will take place May 21-23 in Marietta, Ohio.

Gay, who met the minimum standard with a successful jump of 2.02m (6-07.50) at the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) Gold Meet, topped his career-best mark by clearing 2.05m (6-08.75) at the Gregory Track & Field Invitational, hosted by North Central College on Friday (May 15) night. Gay's jump vaulted him up the provisional qualifying chart and into the top 10.

Marietta's athletes that have met the NCAA provisional marks will eagerly await the selection committee's official announcement of the national championship participants. This announcement is scheduled to take place Sunday (May 17) afternoon.

Marietta's NCAA Provisional Qualifiers (As of 5/9):
Brian Pallini - Shot Put (15.78m); Hammer Throw (52.36m)
Tiffany Kovacevich - Hammer Throw (47.25m)
Zach Gay - High Jump (2.05m)
Kim Keesler - Pole Vault (3.50m)
Jayshon Irvin - 100m Dash (10.71 seconds)
Corryn Muench, Jessi Larrison, Brittany Sims, Sheena Spencer - 4x400m Relay (3:54.98)