BOZEMAN, Mont. - For the second consecutive season, Portland State senior
Nick Trubachik has won the gold medal in the heptathlon, breaking the school-record in the event for the second time this season with 5,432 points. Trubachik's score ranks him 18th in the country as of this weekend and is an NCAA provisional qualifying mark. He is also the only back-to-back pentathlon championship in PSU history.
"I'm really excited," said Trubachik about his victory and back-to-back championships, "I had to work really hard because Asa (Staven) was right on my tail the whole time."
Heading into the day Trubachik, was in first place with a score of 3,026 and three events left in the competition. The Estacada, Ore., native said "I knew i had to get atleast 800 points in every event to get a PR and qualify for nationals."
He started in the 55-meter hurdles with a win in his heat and finished second overall in the event with a 7.88. In the pole vault, Trubachik tied for fourth with a mark of 14-5.25.
Entering the final event, the 1,000-meter run, Trubachik trailed the leader Staven by 35 points.
Trubachik sat in third-place for 3/5 of the race, before taking over second place from Montana's Michael Blanchard and finishing there with a 2:45.76. Staven finished with a 2:51.33. "In the 1,000, it was all heart," laughed Trubachik.
Multis coach
Seth Henson said "I thought we were really consistent across the board… That's what it's all about, staying consistent and having your best day in events your not typically good in.
"I told Nick at the beginning of the day, we got a lot of work to do, nothing was guaranteed and to make sure (he) took care of business in the hurdles like we have been.
"I knew (Nick) had to be around his PR in the pole vault and then it would come back to the 1,000 and that's what happened… I knew Nick had the biggest heart and the most courage out of anyone in the field if it came down to the final race."
Stay tuned to GoViks.com for more videos and updates on the Vikings at the Big Sky Indoor Championships.
