Piedmont College freshman pole vaulter Kyle Ray has been named to the 2016 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) All-Region team for the 2016 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field season. To earn the honor, an athlete must either be ranked in the top five of an individual event in the region according to final TFRRS data or be part of a top three relay team.
Ray finished as one of the top 10 freshmen in the country with his personal best clearing 4.55m (14-feet-11) at the Falcon Classic at the University of Montevallo. The freshman from Albertville, Ala., improved by 16 inches in his debut season with the Lions after clearing 13-7 in high school to finish as the Alabama 6A indoor state champion.
Ray opened the outdoor season at the Victor Ice Breaker Duals at Berry College clearing 3.80m (12-5.5) and followed that performance tying for first overall at the 'Southern Invitational with a mark of 4.25m (13-11.25) just a week later.
The freshman continued to improve with his personal best coming at the Falcon Classic on March 26. Ray also competed at a pair of last chance meets in the final weeks of competition taking on Division I competition including Georgia, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia Tech and others.
