JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Cole Blair's record-breaking season for the Colgate men's track and field team came to an end Wednesday in the NCAA East Preliminaries. 

Competing against the East region's top 48 qualifiers in the long jump, Blair covered 7.45 meters (24' 5.5") on his best attempt which placed him 16th on the leaderboard – just shy of the top-12 threshold needed to advance to the national championships in Austin, Texas. 

Blair's 7.57-meter (24' 10") jump at the Bison Outdoor Classic (4/14) ranked him 43rd in the region leading up to this week's performance. The sophomore standout secured his second straight gold in the long jump at the Patriot League Outdoor Championships by covering 7.42 meters (24' 4.25") and placed second at the ECAC/IC4As.

FROM THE SOURCE
Head Coach Chelsea France

"I'm extremely proud of how Cole represented our team, our school, and himself this season. He's been a champion for us all season with marks that have broken records across the board both at Colgate and our league. 

"Finishing 16th in the region, 33rd in the country is no easy feat, and to accomplish this on a day that wasn't his best speaks volumes. He's coming back next year with a chip on his shoulder to make the final. I'm very excited for what the future holds for him."