Towanda graduate Porschia Bennett, competing for East Stroudsburg University, continues to reach new heights as the former 2-time state champion made the podium at the NCAA Division-II Track and Field Championships.

Bennett jumped 5-feet, 5 3/4-inches to take eighth and earn First Team All-America honors. This comes after taking eighth in the high jump at indoor nationals this past winter.

"It feels amazing to make it on the podium for both indoor and outdoor after having a pretty tough season mentally," Bennett said. "It felt like everything paid off."

Bennett used a third place finish at the PSAC Championships to set up her strong showing at nationals. Bennett jumped 5-feet, 7-inches to earn All-PSAC honors.

"I had a mental block for most of the outdoor season, so getting third at PSACs brought my confidence back up a little," remarked Bennett. "I felt very good after that, and had some really good practices going into nationals."

Bennett wanted to keep things light going out to Kansas.

"Going into nationals my mindset is always to have fun, and believe in myself - the end Olga is always to podium or PR," she said. "It's a hug meet so you have to stay focused only on the things you can control, so that what's I try to do."

Bennett has been on a lot of big stages in her career but competing at the pinnacle of her sport always brings out the butterflies.

"Competing at a stage like nationals is always an overwhelming feeling," she said. "You know you are competing with the best so it makes you want to do your best. Everyone is there to compete and do the same thing as you are. It takes a lot of confidence and calmness when you are in the competition."

Bennett will be going into her senior season and she's already looking ahead to getting even higher.

"For next year this puts me in a pretty good spot," she said. "I know exactly what I need to be working on, and what I need to do to get to the next heights."

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