EMPORIA, KS- Day two of the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championship saw the Buffs earn another National Runner-up title and a podium finish for the Lady Buffs. The Buffs are tied for the lead with 26 points with Wingate, while the Lady Buffs drop to a tied seventh with 13 points with Colorado School of Mines.
 
NATIONAL RUNNER-UP
Hamdi Ali brought the hops to the high jump as he soared to a personal best of 2.22m (7'3.25"). Ali tied with Grand Valley State's Javion Harrison at 2.22m, but due to Harrison's fewer missed jumps in the event, he took the national title.
 
Ali confidently made his first three jumps on his first attempts at starting heights of 2.03m, 2.08m, and 2.13m. Previously, Ali's season best this year was 2.15m. His next jump in the national meet was 2.16m, and on his first attempt, he missed, but Ali came back to clear it with ease. He went on to leap over 2.19m on his first attempt with only four contenders left. At 2.22m, he missed his first attempt while gaining momentum for his next jump. On his second attempt, he made it over, but at the last second, his thigh hit the bar to land on the mat. With the third attempt, Ali got the crowd going with a slow clap before taking on his greatest challenge yet. On his final attempt at 2.22m, he cleared the bar with only a slight sway and a big roar from the crowd.
 
This was the best finish at a national meet for Ali, with his previous best coming in 2022 at 2.11m for fourth place in the indoor national meet. He adds a national runner-up finish and a fifth All-American honor today.
 
MAKING THE PODIUM
Miriam Zanovello made the podium for her last national meet in the triple jump, going 12.61m and finishing in sixth place. Zanovello jumped her best on her first attempt, with four other attempts above 12.34m. She brought in three team points for the Lady Buffs. The graduate student has competed in a national meet since 2021 for the Lady Buffs.
 
COMING UP
The Buffs will have Manuel Cuesta competing first at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow in the triple jump, followed by the Buffs' 4x100 relay at 2:00 p.m. The Lady Buffs will have two competitors, Corrssia Perry and Blessing Akintoye, in the 400m at 3:15 p.m. to start things off.