Josh Owens goes over the bar at the 2013 NCAA Championships held in Naperville, Ill.
St. Peter, Minn. – Making the most of his two competitions inside March, Gustavus Adolphus senior Josh Owens (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) has been named the Male March Student-Athlete of the Month for his historic performances at the MIAC Championships and NCAA Championships.
The reigning MIAC Champion in the indoor pole vault, Josh Owens kicked off March by successfully defending his 2012 crown. The senior cleared a height of 15-feet 4.25-inches to take gold and become the first Gustavus pole vaulter to ever win back-to-back conference titles at the indoor meet. He concluded his conference career as a three-time All-MIAC performer in the indoor pole vault.
With a height of 16-feet 1.25-inches, which he cleared at the Ted Nelson Classic on Feb. 2, Owens qualified for the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships for the second straight season.
As a junior, Owens narrowly missed becoming an All-American after finishing ninth with a height of 15-feet 9.25-inches. Refusing to succumb to the same fate, Owens went over the bar at 16-feet 0.5-inches to finish in a three-way tie for fourth place. By virtue of a standing inside the top eight, he received All-American distinction for the first time in his career.
Owens is the Gustavus track and field program’s first All-American in the indoor pole vault. He was also the first male indoor All-American since Max Hanson finished fifth in the 800-meter run in 2010. Owens was ranked seventh in the event heading into NCAA Championships.
Mr. Owens is a remarkable athlete, outstanding student, and has been a shining light on campus since his freshman year. Plus, words cannot describe that beautiful smile. Good work, Grandson.
~GPJ