DES MOINES, Iowa – Behind a school record performance, Southeastern Louisiana pole vaulter Kovey Simmons earned All-America honors at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Wednesday at Drake Stadium.

Simmons, a native of DeRidder, broke his own school record, clearing 17 feet, 2.75 inches (5.25 meters) to finish in a four-way tie for fourth place with Texas State's Logan Cunningham, BYU's Victor Weirich and Parker Smith of North Carolina. Washington senior Scott Roth won the event by finishing with a vault of 17-8.5 (5.40 meters).

“The national meet is a competition of nerves, as much as it is one of skill and talent,” Southeastern head coach Sean Brady commented. “Kovey was cool and poised with first attempt clearances on all three heights he made. To come to a national meet and set a personal record is almost unheard of. We're extremely proud of his efforts.”

Battling 20 mile per hour winds, Simmons opened the day by vaulting 16-4.75 feet and 16-10.75 feet on his first try at both heights. He then broke his previous record of 17-0.75 feet (5.20 meters) – a mark he set in April at the Texas Relays and matched at last month's NCAA East Preliminary Round.

Simmons cleared his top height of 17-2.75 feet on his first attempt, briefly moving into a tie for the meet lead. He made three attempts at 17-6.5 feet (5.35 meters), but fell short on those tries.

Simmons is the 25th men's track and field All-American in school history. During the indoor campaign, Adonson Shallow earned All-America honors with a third-place finish in the weight throw at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Simmons and Cunningham were two of three Southland Conference student-athletes to earn All-America honors on the opening day of the competition. Northwestern State's Trecey Rew won the national women's discus title to open the meet.