Though he didn't successfully defend his national title in the pole vault, Cal State Stanislaus senior Kasey Burlingham still managed to leave his mark at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships in North Carolina on Saturday.

The outcome: He cleared the start-height of 4.83 meters — 15 feet, 10 inches — to finish eighth against the nation's best pole-vaulters, enough to earn All-American status in the event for the second consecutive time at the Irwin Belk Complex at Johnson C. Smith University.

Burlingham was able to overcome the opening mark on his first try, but he was not successful in three attempts at 4.98 meters.

Western Washington's Ryan Brown became the national pole vault winner after clearing 17-8 1/2.

Burlingham was the 2009 champion with the same mark in San Angelo, Texas.

Also at this year's national track meet, seniors Annie Burlingham — Kasey's wife — and Alycia Wagner did not clear the opening mark of 3.63 meters in the women's pole vault. The duo made their first attempt at that height on Friday, before two weather delays postponed all events until the following day.

On Saturday, Annie Burlingham and Wagner missed on their two remaining attempts.

In the event, Chico State's Katrina Rodriguez won with a mark of 12-10 3/4.