Long jump results
LINCOLN, NE -- Sophomore Taylor Pierson earned All-American honors in the long jump with a fifth-place finish at the Division III Indoor Track and Field National Championships, hosted at Lincoln, Nebraska.

Pierson's first jump, which was 5.55 meters (18 feet, 2 1/2 inches), ranked fifth overall in Friday's long jump event. Pierson recorded a mark of 5.47 meters (17 feet, 11 23/64 inches) in her second jump before fouling in jumps three through six. Pierson's personal-best and school-record in the indoor long jump is 5.73 meters (18 feet, 9 3/4 inches), which she recorded at RIT's Orange/Brown Invitational on February 21st, 2014.

"She just continues to improve," said Nazareth coach James Goss. "She's focused and determined and wants to keep getting better. I think (jumping) 19 feet is a reasonable goal for her."

It is the second time Pierson has earned All-American honors. Pierson placed eighth in the event at the Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2013, and she was 10th at last year's indoor meet. The top eight finishers are recognized as All-Americans.

Pierson's 2013 NCAA outdoor mark was identical to her indoor school-record in the indoor event with a mark of 5.73 meters. Pierson recorded a mark of 5.30 meters (17 feet, 4 3/4 inches) at the 2013 Indoor NCAA Championships to place 10th.

Amherst's Naomi Bates won Friday's event with a mark of 5.79 meters (19 feet), followed by Wisconsin-La Crosse's Bailey Alston with a mark of 5.78 meters (18 feet, 11 3/4 inches), and Wisconsin-Whitewater's Lexie Sondgeroth with a mark of 5.67 meters (18 feet, 7 1/4 inches). In fourth-place was Baldwin Wallace's Melanie Winters, with a mark of 5.65 meters (18 feet, 6 1/2 inches). After Pierson was Rowan's Jamie Thompson in sixth-place with a mark of 5.53 meters (18 feet, 1 3/4 inches).

Nazareth's track and field teams begin their outdoor competition on March 21st-22nd at the Washington & Lee Invitational in Lexington, Virginia.