VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - The third time proved to be the charm for junior pole vaulter Christian Di Nicolantonio. Competing at the Division III Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday afternoon, Di Nicolantonio placed third in the pole vault to become the first All-American for the program since 2004! 

After back-to-back 10th-place finishes at the NCAA Indoor Championships, the junior converted on three key vaults to grab a top the program's first indoor top five finish since Sean Duggan placed runner-up in the shot put in 2004. 

Di Nicolantonio passed on the first three heights, joining the fray at 4.93 meters with six competitors already eliminated. After missing on his first two tries, Di Nicolantonio soared over the bar to remain in the competition. Once again the junior passed, this time at the height of 4.98 meters. The Alexandria, Va. native returned to action and nailed his first attempt at 5.03 meters, putting him into the final six competitors. 

At 5.08 meters, Di Nicolantonio fell unsuccessful on his first two tries, but the program and conference-record holder hit the mark on his third try for the second time, putting him into the final three as the event moved to 5.13 meters. Di Nicolantonio was unsuccessful on his first two attempts before passing on his final attempt. He would go on to finish third behind Millikin's Kyle Hensley and Southern Maine's Ben Drummey, the top seed entering the event. 

Di Nicolantonio has now competed in four total Division III Championships, earning an All-America honor and finishing in the top 10 in all three of his appearances at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He is the seventh Division III Indoor All-American in program history.