June 3, 2008

Pocatello, ID--Idaho State pole vaulter Sam Pierson's goal of going to the NCAA Championship Final was realized Tuesday afternoon. Pierson, a sophomore, will be competing in the pole vault event at the national competition due to his incredible height at the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championship in Sacramento, Calif.

"Sam is really on top of his game right now," said head men's and women's track and field coach Dave Nielsen.

Pierson vaulted his performance best height of 17-02.75 at Conference which initially qualified him for the NCAA West Regional Championship. Now Pierson's height places him 24th on the list of declared male athletes in the pole vault event which determines those that are accepted into the 2008 Championship. He is one of the ten Big Sky athletes to compete in the championship final. The only other pole vaulter from the Big Sky is senior Daniel Imlach of Sacramento State and is seeded 12th on the declared list.

"I want to go as far as I can" said sophomore Pierson about the championship final. "I just want to keep going higher and reach new heights."

Pierson is not the only Bengal to attend nationals, junior Cassie Merkley earned her place at nationals with her heptathlon score of 5,563 points achieved at the CSUN Decathlon and Heptathlon in Northridge, Calif. Merkley is seeded 12th nationally in the heptathlon. Merkley acquired an injury during the long jump of the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championships which kept her from competing in another event after the heptathlon. To give her time to heal Merkley has been challenging herself in practice and following her workouts with plenty of rest.

"She looked good in practice," stated Nielsen. "If she comes close to what she has done in the past she will be an All-American."

Nielsen's positive attitude isn't misguided, he knows an All-American when he sees one. He has helped 20 athletes to All-American status during his tenure at ISU, including 11 in the last four years. With Merkley and Pierson Nielsen will have sent 47 athletes to the NCAA Championships. The last NCAA Top-Ten Finishers and All-American's was in 2003 with Maureen Griffin who captured 8th place with a 200-11 in the hammer throw and assistant coach Jackie Poulson in the heptathlon with 5,573 points.

Nielsen has seen Merkley's ability to perform as an All-American this season through her 14 separate NCAA qualifying marks. Her excellent performance in the Big Sky Conference Outdoor Championship allowed her to capture the heptathlon title and the honor of being named field athlete of the meet. Nielsen's positive attitude toward his athletes also helped Pierson.

"The coaches really helped me to believe in myself," said Pierson. The sophomore pole vaulter understands the great tradition of pole vaulting at Idaho State that coach Nielsen has instilled. Pierson hopes to be part of the tradition of keeping pole vaulting Idaho State's signature event. In 2002, assistant coach Paul Litchfield captured fourth place in the pole vault event at the national competition with a height of 17-04.50 and earned All-American status.

Pierson and Merkley will compete in their respective events June 11-14th at the Jim Duncan Track at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.