FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the second year in a row, the High Point University track and field team sent two student-athletes to the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. Ricardo Montes de Oca made the podium in the men's pole vault where he was crowned a First Team All-American. Justin Sluijter competed in the men's long jump and was named a Second Team All-American.
 
Montes de Oca placed seventh overall after clearing 5.60m, just .01m shy of his own program record. He becomes the first HPU men's pole vaulter to earn first team All-American status in Big South history.
 
He opened the meet coming in at a 5.40m bar and cleared it with ease. Moving up to 5.50m he missed on the first attempt and cleared on his second attempt. He then cleared 5.60m cleanly on his first attempt for his final mark of the day.

"Pretty solid day for Ricardo," Pole Vault Coach Scott Houston stated. "We're very happy to be a first team All-American and to grow from this experience. Ricardo has done incredibly well to qualify for his third straight NCAA championship, and I'm excited to continue to grow his confidence through this experience and learn to be competitive in every future championship."
 
Sluijter competed in his first NCAA Championship and represented the purple and white in the men's long jump, becoming HPU's first-ever long jump athlete to compete at the NCAA's and just the fourth long jumper in Big South history at indoors. On his second jump of the day, he launched 7.37m into the sand which would mark his farthest jump to earn a 15th place finish.
 
High Point will turn the page to the outdoor season as HPU host the Bob Davidson Team Challenge on March 20-21 at Vert Stadium.