Fairbanks, Kinsley Earn All-American Status To Begin Outdoor Nationals

Both senior Brent Fairbanks and freshman Kelsey Kinsley were trending up prior to the start of the 2022 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships on Thursday (May 26) at Grand Valley State.
 
That upward trend continued on Thursday, as both Fairbanks and Kinsley earned D-II All-American honors in the hammer throw.
 
Fairbanks, in his final event as an Eagle, finished in third place in the men's hammer at 63.84 meters/209-feet-5. It was his best nationals finish in the hammer, his season-best throw, his fourth straight meet with an improved distance, and his sixth career All-American honor.
 
Kinsley, in her first nationals appearance, took fifth place in the women's hammer at 58.30 meters/191-feet-3. It is her first All-American award, and her third consecutive meet with a PR.
 
Ashland's men have six team points, and are tied for 11th place through four scored events. The Eagle women have four team points, tied for 12th place through three scored events.
 
Leading Ashland's preliminary efforts was the men's 4x100-meter relay team of senior Tim Rumas, sophomore Doniven Jackson, senior Channing Phillips and senior Aaron Banks. In turning in the top prelim time of 39.54 seconds, the quartet set a new school record.
 
Senior Trevor Bassitt qualified for the finals of the men's 400 hurdles by finishing prelims in 50.21 seconds, the best time in the field through the first two heats.
 
Also in the women's hammer, senior Carrol Pauley was 16^th at 51.93 meters/170-feet-4.
 
In the men's 400 dash prelims, Phillips was 11^th in 47.28 seconds.
  - Men's discus throw – 2 p.m.
- Men's 200 dash prelims – 5:30 p.m.
- Men's 4x400 relay prelims – 7:50 p.m.
- Women's 4x400 relay prelims – 8:10 p.m.
  - Men's 4x100 finals – 2 p.m.
- Men's shot put – 3 p.m.
- Men's 400 hurdles finals – 4:10 p.m.
- Men's 200 dash finals (if qualify) – 4:40 p.m.
- Men's 4x400 relay finals (if qualify) – 5:50 p.m.
- Women's 4x400 relay finals (if qualify) – 6 p.m.