Fairbanks, Pauley Earn All-American Honors On Nationals Day 1

After having to wait two years between appearances, Ashland University senior Brent Fairbanks was back at the NCAA Division II Indoor Championships on Thursday (March 11) night in Birmingham, Ala., and he earned All-American honors for the third consecutive season by placing fourth in the men's weight throw.
 
Fairbanks was the national runner-up in 2019 in the men's weight throw, then was named All-American last year when nationals were canceled due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. On Thursday, Fairbanks once again was an All-American thanks to a top mark of 21.50 meters/70-feet-6½.
 
Those five opening team points from Fairbanks puts the AU men in fifth place after one of 17 events.
 
Both freshman Noah Koch and senior Cody Patterson made their first indoor nationals appearances as Eagles, and each just missed getting to the second round of the weight throw. Koch was 10^th at 18.51 meters/60-feet-8¾, while Patterson was 11^th at 18.45 meters/60-feet-6½.
 
In the women's weight throw, junior Carrol Pauley finished fifth for her second All-American citation, recording a top heave of 19.12 meters/ 62-feet-8¾. Senior Gianna DiPippo ended just outside of All-American status, taking ninth place at 18.41 meters/60-feet-4¾.
 
Ashland's women have four team points through Day 1, putting them in eighth place through two of 17 events.
 
Also on Thursday, senior Travis Moore began the men's heptathlon with the 60-meter dash, long jump, shot put and high jump, and sits in sixth place with 2,877 points.
 
On Friday (March 12), Day 2 of 2021 indoor nationals commences, with the following schedule for Ashland competitors:
 
- 10 a.m. Central/11 a.m. East – Men's heptathlon (last three events) – Moore
- 2 p.m. Central/3 p.m. East – Men's mile (semifinals) – senior Ian Johnson
- 2:15 p.m. Central/3:15 p.m. East – Men's 60 hurdles (semifinals) – senior Trevor Bassitt
- 2:25 p.m. Central/3:25 p.m. East – Men's 400 dash (semifinals) – senior Channing Phillips
- 2:45 p.m. Central/3:45 p.m. East – Men's 60 dash (semifinals) – Bassitt, junior Tim Rumas
- 3:25 p.m. Central/4:25 p.m. East – Men's 200 dash (semifinals) – Bassitt, Rumas
- 3:45 p.m. Central/4:45 p.m. East – Men's DMR – junior Jake Hall, Bassitt, sophomore Nick Ponzi, Johnson
- 7:25 p.m. Central/8:25 p.m. East – Women's 400 dash (semifinals) – senior Rachel Miller