Aaron LaGarde will make history for the Anderson University track and field program Saturday when he competes in the triple jump at the NCAA Division II national meet at Mount San Antonio College at Walnut, Calif. "This is huge for our program," said AU head coach Randy Greer. "Aaron is our first national qualifier since Anderson joined Division II. This puts us on the map competitively and recruiting-wise. Aaron is more than a jumper. We can stick him in several events. This spring he has competed in the triple jump, the long jump, the 400 hurdles, the 4 X 100 relay, the 4 X 400 relay, and the 400." LaGarde, a freshman from Stone Mountain, Ga., qualified for the national meet in the triple jump with a leap of 50-4 inches. "It's not a surprise Aaron is going to the meet," Greer said. "We expected him to make it. We are surprised how much he has improved since his senior year in high school. As a senior in high school, he did 46 feet and change. He has improved three and a half feet in one year." The top six performances earned automatic bids in the triple jump. LaGarde qualified fifth in the field of 18 athletes. "Aaron's goal is to hold his place and make All-American," Greer said. "Anything above that would be a bonus. The top two guys in the event are better than everybody else, but you never know what might happen." LaGarde barely missed qualifying for the long jump. A total of 16 athletes made the field in the long jump. LaGarde was ranked 22nd in the long jump. "Aaron is very knowledgeable and easy to work with," Greer said. "You explain something to him and he gets it." The triple jump competition begins Saturday at 5:20 p.m. Pacific time.