Jan. 28, 2008

BOSTON, Mass. and MADISON, Wisc. - While the Wake Forest track team had a break from competition over the weekend, Demon Deacon volunteer assistant coaches Chris Boyles, Lela Nelson and Chris Helwick had strong weekend invitational performances, including Nelson who defeated Olympic Long Jump champion Carolina Kluft.

Nelson had the top performance of the women's long jump at the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, with a 6.50 meter mark, surpassing the Swedish champion by 10 centimeters. Nelson is now qualified to compete at the US Indoor Nationals in Boston where a winning jump will place her on the US team to the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia, Spain.

Chris Boyles and Chris Helwick took the top two spots in the men's heptathlon at the Wisconsin Elite Invitational in Madison on January 26. Boyles had a lifetime best tally of 5842, while Helwick was runner up with 5447 points.