Fall 2012 Alumni Magazine - Lake Erie College

Sports NEWS
Jamil Dudley Wins Division II High
Jump to Become Storm’s First NCAA
Champion
Sophomore Jamil Dudley became Lake Erie’s first varsity national champion when
he won the high jump at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships
on May 25 at Colorado State University.
Dudley, who already had three career All-American credits to his name
heading into the Outdoor Championships, opened the event by clearing his
first five attempts – the only competitor to do so. After missing his first chance
at 7’ 4 ½” (2.25 meters), he cleared it on his second attempt to match his career
high. That height is also the ninth best in the history of NCAA Division II.
Dudley’s winning jump matched his B Standard jump from earlier this season and
sent him to Eugene, Ore., in June for a shot at the U.S. Olympic team during the
Olympic Trials. His 2011-12 season also included a pair of Great Lakes Intercollegiate
Athletic Conference (GLIAC) championships.
“We felt coming in that he had a really good shot
to win a championship, maybe expected him to
do it,” said head coach Bryan Harmon. “He’s
put a lot of work in to get better at his craft and
we are both very excited for Jamil and proud
of his accomplishments. Our (track and field)
program is still relatively young, but guys like
Jamil are quickly putting us on the map.”
Following the Olympic Trials, Dudley was honored by the Lake County Captains minor
league baseball team in August with enshrinement on their Wall of Champions. Dudley
was introduced to the crowd, presented with a plaque and had the honor of throwing
out the ceremonial first pitch.
“It’s a tremendous honor, for sure,” Dudley said about becoming the first national
champion at Lake Erie. “I’ve been working towards this and waiting for this for a while
now. It’s a great honor, but I know with the way our program is going – and all of our
teams as well – that I definitely won’t be the last (national champion).”
30 LAKE ERIE | FALL ‘12