Track and Field’s VanMarter Captures National Championship

The first day of the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships brought something incredibly special to St. John Fisher College: an individual national championship. Senior Mark VanMarter ’18 claimed the national championship honor in the long jump event; a first-ever in Fisher track and field history.

The championship meet was hosted by Birmingham-Southern College on Friday, March 9 and Saturday, March 10.

VanMarter started the day jumping a 6.85 meter mark in the preliminary round. The jump sent him into the finals portion of the event, sitting in eighth place overall. VanMarter, a Liverpool native, jumped a monstrous 7.36 meters, a full 0.06 meters above the second place finisher to capture the national title. The jump also matched his best of the season that originally ranked him first in the nation and earned him All-American honors in the event.

The national championship award has only been claimed one other time in Fisher’s history. Scott Harris Jr. took the individual award in men’s golf in the 2008 season. VanMarter’s teammate, Peter Girardi, has placed as national runner-up twice in outdoor track and field.

This season, Girardi and freshman Kyle Rollins join VanMarter in earning All-American honors at the meet.

The track and field team returns to competition for the outdoor season on Saturday, March 31, at SUNY Geneseo.