Carly Dockendorf and Stevie Marshalek were among four Huskies to significantly improve their NCAA chances Saturday.

SEATTLE - Washington pole vaulters Carly Dockendorf and Stevie Marshalek moved themselves off the national championships bubble Saturday with outstanding performances at the UW Last Chance Qualifier at Dempsey Indoor, each posting marks among the top-10 in the nation this year.

The two were among three Husky individuals to significantly better their NCAA standing at the Last Chance meet, designed to provide athletes one final opportunity to improve their qualifying marks prior to next week's NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Fayetteville, Ark. The nation's top 15-18 individuals and top 10-12 relays are expected to be rewarded with NCAA bids when the final Championships field is announced Monday evening at NCAASports.com.

Squarely on the bubble with a No. 15 national ranking entering Saturday's competition, Dockendorf soared to sixth in the nation with a winning clearance of 13 feet, 7 ¾ inches, her best-ever indoors and the third-best indoor mark in UW history. Marshalek, meanwhile, climbed into a tie for 10th on the national list with a clearance at 13-5 ¾, her best vault since a 13-7 ¼ effort at this same meet a year ago.

"Those girls really stepped up when they had to," said fifth-year head coach Greg Metcalf. "We've built a reputation over the past couple of years as a pole vault powerhouse, so it will be good to have those two ladies representing us in Arkansas."

Also climbing up the national rankings was sophomore Amy Lia, whose time of 4 minutes, 44.34 seconds in the women's mile was UW's fourth-fastest ever. An All-American in the 1,500 meters outdoors in 2005, Lia moved to No. 15 in the national rankings

Read More....