Chris Perry Captures National Triple Jump Title

Chris Perry Interview | Chris Perry/Michael Hulme Interview

CANTON, N.Y. -- Chris Perry (Attleboro, Mass.) captured the first national championship in the history of the Bridgewater State University varsity athletics program as the BSU senior won the triple jump title on Saturday at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Saint Lawrence University.

Perry shattered his own school record in the triple jump as he posted the winning mark of 50 feet, 11 inches (15.52 meters) on his third attempt of the day. Perry nearly equaled the record on his ensuing attempt as he recorded a leap of 50 feet, 10.75 inches (15.51 meters).

Perry, who eclipsed his previous BSU standard of 48 feet, 9.50 inches (14.85 meters) by more than two feet, edged defending national champion Jamie Ruginski of Southern Maine to win the title. Ruginski posted his top mark of 50 feet, 7.50 inches (15.43 meters) also on his third attempt.

Perry joins junior Conor Murtagh (Walpole, Mass.) as one of two BSU All-Americans at the national championship meet. Murtagh placed seventh in the finals of the 110-meter hurdles with a school-record time of 14.17 seconds. He broke his previous BSU standard of 14.35 second set two weeks ago at the NEICAAA Championships.

Perry garnered All-American accolades in both the triple jump (2nd place) and the long jump (3rd place) during the winter indoor season. Murtagh earned All-America status this past winter in the 60-meter hurdles (4th place) as well as last spring in the 110-meter hurdles (8th place).

The Bears finished 22nd in the team standing with 12 points. The University of Wisconsin La Crosse captured the team title with 71 points, followed by Wisconsin Eau Claire in second place (46 pts.) and Wisconsin Whitewater in third (42 pts.).