BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (March 11, 2023) – U.S. Merchant Marine Academy senior Kira Porzio (Palo Cedro, Calif.) has earned All-America accolades! She finished in eighth place in the high jump event at the 2023 NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Championships down in Alabama on Saturday.
 
Porzio becomes the Academy's first female All-American since 2018 and the first female track & field All-American since the great USMMA Athletics Hall of Famer Anna Maly '93.
 
Important Links

• Complete Results
• Photo Gallery 

Notes From Coach Koelbel
Kira staying cleaner than other competitors is what made the difference between All-American and not (meaning she had less missed attempts on earlier heights). She pulled into a seventh place tie, and in the end took eighth after she was surpassed by one Wisconsin-La Crosse competitor who cleared a height more than her.
 
Her height of 1.66 is the same height that the fourth place finishers cleared as well, but it all came down to misses on earlier attempts. Kira did great! Her 1.66 jump was huge and her last attempt on final height was great.
 
The Mariners will open the 2023 Outdoor Season with the annual Coach Omeltchenko Memorial Invite on Sunday, April 2. Action is set to get underway at 10 a.m. at Brooks Stadium. The meet will serve as Merchant Marine's Senior Day as well as its 142 Meet. Live video and live results for the meet will be available with links on the USMMA Women's Track & Field Schedule Page.
 
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