EUGENE, Ore. — Norfolk State senior Raphael Hall (Chesapeake, Va.) completed a stellar career on Friday night at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the University of Oregon's Hayward Field, when he finished out of the running for All-American honors in the men's high jump.

Hall cleared the opening height of 6 feet, 8.75 inches. He was unable to clear the next height of 6-10.75, and finished 21st out of the 24 competitors in the event. Derek Drouin of Indiana won it with a top clearance of 7-5.

Hall, who is completing his third year on the NSU track team, was making his second appearance at the NCAA national outdoor meet. The former Virginia high school state high jump champion joined the track team as a sophomore in 2008 after a two-year stint on the Spartans' basketball team. He made a surprising run to nationals that year, but a balky knee limited his success over the last two years.

Still, Hall was the 2010 MEAC indoor high jump champion, a two-time national outdoor qualifier, and contributed to five MEAC championship teams for the Spartans (three outdoor, two indoor).

“ 'Ralph' has done a great job for us considering he's come off the basketball court and considering the knee problems he's had,” NSU head coach Kenneth Giles said. “He's done everything we've asked of him and then some. He leaves a great legacy for some of our younger high jumpers, and hopefully they can replace what he's brought to the team.”

Hall is one of just three seniors departing the program this year, including pole vaulter Brett Dodd (San Antonio, Texas) and walk-on high jumper Eric Casper (Chesapeake, Va.). The Spartans will welcome back more than 20 letterwinners next season as they seek an unprecedented sixth straight sweep of the MEAC track championships.