DANVILLE, Ky. - On the same day a great era of Midway women's pole vaulting entered its last stretch, a new one may have begun.

Senior standout Nevaeh Brown hit the NAIA National Qualifying 'A' standard while freshman teammate Maddi Reed hit the 'B' standard in her first college meet, as the duo placed first and second in pole vault at the season-opening Centre First Chance indoor meet Saturday.

The pair had the top finishes for the Eagles at an event that did not record team scores.

Brown, who hit a meet record of 3.57 meters at last season's Centre First Chance, had her mark broken when Reed cleared 3.60 meters on her first try. Though Reed topped out there, it was the exact height she needed to clear to qualify for the Indoor National Championships.

But after missing her first try at 3.70 meters, Brown cleared on her second try, taking back the meet record and hitting the National 'A' standard.

This marks the eighth time the senior from Louisville has qualified for an NAIA National Championship event and the fourth time she's done so in indoor competition. The five-time All-American, who has used all of her outdoor eligibility, was the runner-up at both the indoor and outdoor national championships last season.

All told, the Eagles had four of the top-five finishers in pole vault. Emerson VanScoy placed third (3.35) with Makayla Brooks taking fifth (2.95).

Midway had five other top-five finishes. Stevie McSorley had the best of the group, placing fourth in the one-mile race in 5:38.88, just ahead of fifth-place teammate Ariah Egleston (5:39.65).

Others taking fifth were Emilee Cecil (200-meter dash, 26.71), Abby Cunningham (3,000-meter run, 11:26.52) and the 4x400 relay team of Egleston, McSorley, Abby Baldridge and Macy Adams (4:38.62). 

The Eagles are off until Jan. 11, when they travel to NCAA Division-I Marshall (W.V.) University for the Marshall Alumni Classic.