EUGENE, Ore. — Cornell pole vaulter Avery Hilliard added another milestone to her historic season Thursday evening, competing in the women's pole vault at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Hayward Field.

Competing under clear skies on a beautiful evening in Eugene, Hilliard represented the Big Red in the women's pole vault final after becoming the second ever female pole vaulter in program history to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Hilliard opened the competition in strong fashion, clearing the opening height of 4.09 meters on her first attempt. She then moved to 4.24 meters, where she narrowly missed on each of her three attempts despite coming close to clearing the bar.

The performance earned Hilliard a tie for 18th place nationally and Honorable Mention All-America recognition, capping a breakthrough season that saw her rewrite Cornell's record book and make program history.

"Overall, it was a quality showing at her first NCAA final," said Cornell head coach Mike Henderson. "We're especially proud of the effort, considering she was ill the weekend coming into the meet. Avery has put together a historic year of vault for Cornell, making the entire Big Red family proud!"

Hilliard closes the 2026 outdoor campaign as one of the most accomplished vaulters in Cornell history, highlighted by her historic qualification to the NCAA Championships and her emergence among the nation's top competitors.