ASUZA, Calif. - Only 15 points shy of school-record pace in the heptathlon, junior
Joenisha Vinson leads the California Invitational heptathlon competition at the Mt. Sac Relays with a score of 3,206 points, 36 points ahead of Wisconsin's Deanna Lathan. In the process of recording a new day one best score, Vinson also broke her own school-record in the 100-meter hurdles with a 13.83 seconds.
The native of Phoenix, Ariz., Vinson, started the day with her record breaking performance in the hurdles and started with the lead in the competition by scoring 1,003 points. It was the first time she had ever scored over 1,000 points in a heptathlon event.
She then followed up with a high jump of five feet, 2.25 inches, worth 712 points, and a shot put throw of 36-7 for another 608 points and a three event score of 2,236.
Vinson closed day one with the second-best time of her career in the 200-meters with a time of 25.04 seconds, 883 points, to finish the day with 3,206 points, an improvement of 154 points from her previous day one best score.
In fact, her improvement is only 15-points shy of record holder Robin Unger's best score, 3,221 points. Unger set the record April 11-12, 1996 with her seven-event score of 5,356. She went on to win her second-consecutive NCAA Championship later that year and competed at the 2004 Olympic Trials in the heptathlon.
Vinson is just 754 points shy qualifying for the Big Sky Championship in the heptathlon and should easily overcome points deficit tomorrow. Vinson's time in the hurdles may qualify for the 2011 NCAA West Regional in Eugene. Last year, she qualified with a similar time of 13.84.
Former Viking Nick Trubachik is also competing in the decathlon and as of release time, had a score of 2,230 after three events.
Vinson will resume her quest for a Big Sky Championship bid in the heptathlon, tomorrow morning.
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Day One Results:
Event | Mark | Score
100m hurdles | 13.84 | 1003
High jump | 5-2.25 | 712
Shot put | 36-7 | 608
200m | 25.04 | 883
Total score: 3,206
