GREENSBORO, N.C. - St. Norbert College sophomore Grace Kowalkowski gained All-America status while competing in the pole vault at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Irwin Belk Track.

Kowalkowski, a De Pere native, finished in an unbreakable three-way tie for eighth place in the pole vault with a best height of 12 feet 1 1/2 inches to earn her first All-America honor. Ithaca College's Meghan Matheny was the national champion with a height of 12-7 1/2.

Kowalkowski cleared her first height at 11-3 3/4 on her first attempt. She then needed he third try at 11-9 3/4 to stay alive. Kowalkowski then followed by gaining 12-1 1/2 on her second attempt. She was eliminated after three attempts at 12-3 1/2.

Also competing for St. Norbert was junior Lauren Rottier, who took part in the first four events of the heptathlon. She scored 2,605 points to sit in 16th place heading into the final three events on Friday.

Rottier opened with 724 points by running 15.92 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles. She then followed up with a height of 5-1 1/4 in the high jump for 689 points. Rottier then put the shot 32-5 3/4 for 523 points, followed by a time of 27.52 seconds in the 200-meter dash for 669 points. The long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter run close out the heptathlon Friday.