Hall of Fame
Head-to-head, the best usually wins when it comes to track and field. And when Melinda Owen stepped up for the pole vault competition for the Vandals, everyone else knew they were just fighting for second.
Owen won six Western Athletic Conference Championships in the event from 2005-08; three indoor and three outdoor. Outside of championship events, Owen was just as dominant, as she never lost to a WAC opponent in her career. Her mark of 4.40 meters in the outdoor pole vault still holds as the gold standard in WAC history. Owen also still holds the school record in the event, both indoor and outdoor.
Her marks were not only WAC great, but nationally elite. Owen qualified for the NCAA Championships on three occasions. Her first came during the 2007 indoor season, when she would go on to finish fifth and earn All-America honors.
Owen also qualified for the NCAA Championships during the 2007 outdoor season, but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
2008 was a special year for Owen in outdoor track and field. She dominated the WAC Championships for her third straight outdoor championship, and held the top vault in the nation before sustaining another season-ending injury. Not distracted by the injury, Owen stayed hard at work in the classroom and earned Academic All-America honors.
Â
