Full Results

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – East Stroudsburg University sophomore Aspen Gaita capped off a memorable debut indoor season for the Warriors with second team All-America recognition in the pentathlon at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships on Friday afternoon.

Gaita took 12th place in the pentathlon with 3,530 points, beating out her closest competitor by 10 points to earn the final available All-America spot. She added a 16th place finish nationally in the 60-meter hurdles after completing her heat in 8.83.

Gaita becomes the 16th All-American in ESU women's track & field history, and the first since Christina O'Connor accomplished the feat both indoors and outdoors in the high jump back in 2015.

The marathon day for Gaita began with the 60m hurdles portion of the pentathlon, where she earned her best finish in the five-event competition with a fifth-place showing out of 16 participants. Gaita crossed the line in 8.73 to add 967 points to her total.

Next up was the high jump, where the Stroudsburg native placed 11th with a top clearance of 5-3 3/4. Gaita was then 16th in the shot put (27-9 1/2) and ninth in the long jump (17-7) to put her in 12th place heading into the final event, the 800m.

Gaita finished 13th in that race, but her 714 points total was enough to keep her in 12th place overall and secure her All-America accolades.

Pittsburg State's Emilyn Dearman placed first in the pentathlon with 4146 points, beating out Angelo State's Kami Norton (4067 points) in second.

Gaita wraps up a season which saw her set school records in the 55m hurdles, the 60m hurdles, the long jump and the pentathlon. Her top mark of 8.54 in the 60m hurdles, which earned her a PSAC title back on Feb. 26, was also a new conference record. Gaita was additionally a five-time PSAC Athlete of the Week winner (three field, two track).

The outdoor portion of the track & field season is set to begin next weekend, with ESU traveling to Division I Charlotte to take part in the 49er Classic on March 17-18.