Okay, you are wondering how does our alma mater end up with a D1 national champion in anything, let alone the pole vault. The story I heard is that the Binghamton coach is friends with the vaulter's father. Dad felt comfortable sending son to Binghamton because he knew son would be well looked after.
The rest, as they say, is history. And speaking of history, how about all those other national titles that Binghamton track and field athletes have copped (see below).
For Immediate Release: March 14, 2008
[meet results...] [photos...]
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark.-- Post-grad Rory Quiller (West Point, N.Y.) concluded his collegiate career in dramatic style on Friday night at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, becoming the first Binghamton athlete ever to win a NCAA Division I championship. He won the pole vault title with a height of 18-0 1/2.
With the win, Quiller has now earned All-America honors three times during his career. He was second in the 2007 NCAA Indoor Meet and tied for fourth at the 2007 Outdoor Championships.
While Quiller is the first Binghamton athlete to win an individual Division I championships, there were 11 other such winners prior to the athletic department's transition to the Division I level in 2001. Binghamton had 10 individual national champions during its NCAA Division III era (until 1998). Six of those wins were in track & field, all under current head coach Mike Thompson. The other four champions were in wrestling.
In its three years at the NCAA Division II level (1998-01), the Bearcats had their lone individual champion in 1999 when Brian Hamilton won the indoor long jump title. With Quiller's win, Thompson now has the rare distinction of having coached a NCAA champion at all three Division levels.
“We are very proud of Rory Quiller,” said Binghamton University President Lois B. DeFleur. “He is a talented student and a record-setting athlete. Rory has represented Binghamton University at the highest level against national competitors from long-established programs. Our entire campus community is proud of the skill, determination, and winning spirit that he has demonstrated this season.”
"Speaking for myself and for the entire athletic department, we couldn't be prouder of Rory's accomplishments as a student-athlete at Binghamton University," Director of Athletics Dr. Joel Thirer said. "It's been an absolute pleasure to have been associated with Rory throughout his academic and athletic years at Binghamton. I'm delighted that he has enjoyed such great athletic success as a result of his hard work and dedication to his sport, while maintaining an outstanding record in the classroom. And, just as importantly, it couldn't happen to a nicer young man."
In addition to becoming the first Binghamton athlete to win a NCAA Division I title, Quiller is also the first America East Conference athlete to win a national championship in its 29-year history.
"Rory's legacy is now secured in America East Conference history," America East Commissioner Patrick Nero said. "His accomplishments were tremendous before this NCAA Championship, now he will always be remembered within the conference as our first individual national champion. He becomes the standard for all the student-athletes that will follow him."
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