TULSA, Okla. - University of Hawai`i freshman
Bianca DeBartolo finished fourth in the heptathlon after totaling a two-day score of 4,499 points, Thursday, at the Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Tulsa's Hurricane Track and Soccer Stadium. DeBartolo earned five points toward UH's team score, marking the first time ever that the Rainbow Wahine scored points in the event.
First-day leader Katie Christianson of Fresno State won the heptathlon with 5,215 points and held off a late charge by SMU's Franzisca Lakomy (5,112), who captured the day's final two events.
DeBartolo came within 60 points of her lifetime best and school-record score of 4,559, which she set at the California Invitational Heptathlon in April. Her fourth place finish is the highest in school history at the WAC Championships.
The Bondi, New South Wales native, got things started in the long jump with a leap of 5.26m (17-3.25). The next event, the javelin, the freshman threw the day's second farthest distance of 37.73m (123-9). In the final event, DeBartolo ran the 800m course in 2:55.98.
On Wednesday's first day of competition, DeBartolo tallied a Day 1 school-record 2,841 points by virtue of three lifetime bests in the 100m hurdles (14.76), high jump (1.50m), and 200m (26.53).
The preliminary rounds of the running and field events begin on Friday with the finals scheduled for Saturday. The Rainbow Wahine are seeking their highest finish ever at the WAC Championships. Currently their highest finish is eighth (2001) and highest point total is 49 (2002).
WAC Championships Day 2 Results
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