ALLENDALE, Mich. – As the top two pole vaulters in school history, Justin Ellerbee and Austin Allen represented Cal Poly Pomona well Saturday at the NCAA Division II National Championships.
 
Ellerbee finished fifth to earn All-American honors. He's the fourth Bronco men's pole vaulter to receive that recognition and the first since 1976. It marked a sizeable one-year improvement for the Rocklin native as he placed 13th at the nationals in 2013.
 
Allen narrowly missed the All-American accolade as he finished ninth overall in his championship debut. A native of Beebe, Ark., Allen transferred to CPP from Los Angeles Valley College before the 2013-14 academic year.
 
Concluding their junior seasons, the top height on Saturday for both Ellerbee and Allen was 5.10 meters (16 feet, 8.75 inches). Ellerbee cleared that mark on his first attempt while Allen matched it on his third try.
 
Starting at the height of 4.80 meters (15 feet, 9 inches), Ellerbee and Allen cleared that mark on his first attempt. Allen also only needed one attempt on the next height, 4.95 meters (16 feet, 2.75 inches) while Ellerbee cleared it on try No. 2.
 
Pittsburg State's Jeff Piepenbrink captured the pole vault national title. The 2014 NCAA D-II National Championships have been held on the campus of Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich., and the 2015 competition will take place in the same location.