William Jewell College Athletics

This Independence, Mo., native (William Chrisman High School) arrived on campus in the fall of 1999 after a year at the University of Central Missouri.  A 3-sport letter winner in high school (football, swimming and track & field), Kelly concentrated on the Pole Vault during his three year career for the Cardinals.  He set both the indoor and outdoor Jewell school records in the Pole Vault (16’ 8 ¾” Indoor and 16’7” Outdoor).  His 16’7” Outdoor School Record is also the Garnett Peters Stadium Record and the record for the Jewell Invitational. 

Kelly was a 6-time All-Conference selection for the Cardinals (both indoor and outdoor all three seasons) and a 5-time NAIA All-American for the Cardinals (Indoor-2000, Indoor and Outdoor-2001 and Indoor and Outdoor-2002).  He became Jewell’s third Track & Field National Champion by winning the NAIA National Outdoor Meet (held in Burnaby, British Columbia) in 2001 at a height of 16’0”(it was a very windy day).  He received the Cecil R. Martin Award as Jewell’s Athlete of the Year in 2001.