As part of the buildup to the 75th Anniversary celebration for Claremont McKenna College (visit CMC's 75th Anniversary Countdown Page to learn more), we are reliving many of the great moments from CMS athletic department history over the 75-day countdown from April 17 to July 1. If you were a part of this great moment and would like to add to the memories, or if you would like to submit your memories of your own favorite CMS Athletics moments, fill out the form on our main 75th Anniversary page.

Great Moments in 75 Years of Athletics
1994 Men's Track and Field: Jones High Jumps Seven Feet

There are certian milestones in track and field that represent joining an elite class of athletes. The four-minute mile and the 10-second barrier in the 100 meters are famous ones for international competition. In NCAA Division III track and field, one of those milestones is clearing seven feet in the high jump. 

By 1995, only seven NCAA Division III athletes had ever high jumped higher than seven feet, with a handful of others clearing that milestone exactly. At CMS, the milestone wasn't seriously threatened in the first 30 years of the program. The school record of 6-6 set by Jeremy McKniff in 1971 held for 20 years (matched by Mark Palmer in 1985) until Jeremy Jurgens cleared 6-9 3/4 in 1991, which was the closest any Stag had ever come, and still stands as the second-highest jump in program history. 

The highest is Eric Jones, who in 1994, became the first Stag to ever clear 7-feet, joining that exclusive list of NCAA Division III athletes. Since Jones accomplished it, Jeff Clark has been the closest CMS athlete to matching that feat, but he topped out at 6-9 in 2005. McKniff's 6-6 in 1971 still ties for sixth at CMS, meaning that only five athletes have even come within a half-foot of the milestone. 

Jones went on to earn All-America