April 18, 2008

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Northern Iowa duo of freshman Olimpia Nowak and sophomore Dani Stipe hold down the top two spots in the women's heptathlon following the first day of competition Friday at the John McDonnell Invitational.

 

In addition, UNI junior Mat Clark owns the lead in the men's decathlon with five events in the books.

 

Nowak posted a score of 3,064 points in the first four events of the heptathlon, with her performance including wins in the 100-meter hurdles (14.80 seconds) and shot put (39 feet, 10 3/4 inches).

 

Stipe, who sits second after day one with a score of 3,047, took the top spot in the 200-meter dash with a time of 25.09 seconds. Nowak finished third in the 200 with a time of 25.71. Stipe also posted the second-fastest 100 hurdles time of the day (14.82) and was third in both the shot put (32-11) and high jump (5-4 1/4).

 

All told, UNI athletes hold down four of the top six spots in the heptathlon competition, with junior Alyssa Fischer in fifth place (2,779 points) and freshman Rachel VanderHolt in sixth (2,767). VanderHolt was second in the high jump, clearing 5 feet, 6 1/2 inches.

 

Clark put together a consistent effort throughout the first five events of the decathlon and owns the lead with a score of 3,798 points. That total provides Clark a 218-point cushion over Oklahoma's Mitch Henry, who sits in second place with 3,580 points.

 

Clark won four of the five events contested Friday, setting personal-best marks in the long jump and shot put in the process. He began the day with an 11.11-second clocking that gave him the top spot in the 100-meter dash, and followed with a winning leap of 23-1 1/4 in the long jump.

 

A throw of 40-9 3/4 in the shot put gave Clark wins in each of the first three events, before he finished in a tie for fourth in the high jump (6-1 1/2). Clark then wrapped up his strong first day with a winning effort of 49.91 in the 400 meters.

 

Both the heptathlon and decathlon competitions conclude Saturday, with the rest of the Panthers hitting the track at Arkansas' John McDonnell Field for competition, as well. Field events begin at 9 a.m., with live results for each event available at www.flashresults.com.

 

 

JANSEN TAKES THIRD IN SHOT PUT AT KANSAS RELAYS

 

LAWRENECE, Kan. - Senior Rachel Jansen led the way for the contingent of UNI throwers competing at the Kansas Relays on Friday, taking third in the women's shot put.

 

One of just three competitors to surpass the 50-foot threshold, Jansen posted a throw of 53-1 1/2 that was good enough for third place in the prestigious competition and was the top mark posted by a collegian.

 

Jansen's performance backed up her effort in Thursday's women's hammer throw competition, in which she finished fourth with a heave of 187 feet, 4 inches.

 

Junior Sarah Harms was 11th in the shot put Friday with a throw of 46-1 1/2. Harms also took 13th in Thursday's hammer throw competition with an effort of 151-4, while sophomore Courtney Landers was 16th with her throw of 146-5.

 

On the men's side, freshman Allen Weeks took 15th place in the shot put with a heave of 48-2. Junior Lucas Cook also was 15th in the hammer throw competition Thursday, posting a mark of 168-6.

 

The Panther throwers wrap up competition with the final day of the Kansas Relays on Saturday, taking part in the both the women's and men's discus.  Live results are available at www.kansasrelays.com.