SACRAMENTO, Calif. - University of Hawai`i junior Annett Wichmann completed a record-setting first day of the heptathlon at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships, Thursday, at Sacramento State's Alex G. Spanos Sports Complex. The junior from Jena, Germany is tied for ninth in the 26-athlete field.

Wichmann finished the first four disciplines with a school-record 3,387 points, 50 more than her Western Athletic Conference championship pace. SMU's Gaelle Niare leads the field with 3,690 points. Defending champion Jacquelyn Johnson of Arizona State is fourth with 3,557 points.

In the opening 100-meter hurdles discipline, Wichmann clocked in at a personal-best 14.48 seconds, good for 20th place and 912 points. The next event was the high jump and Wichmann cleared 5-8.75 (1.75m) to finish in a tie for eighth and 916 points.

In the shot put, Wichmann posted the day's second best throw, heaving 44-5.5 (13.55m) for 764 points, moving her up six spots to sixth place. She finished the day with another lifetime best of 26.03 seconds in the 200-meter dash.

"She looked really good today with PRs in both the 100 hurdles and 200, two of her weaker events," head coach Carmyn James said. "She put together a record setting performance after day one and is looking good, feeling good, and excited about tomorrow."

The heptathlon concludes on Friday with the final three disciplines - long jump, javelin and 800-meter run. Also competing on Friday is senior thrower Novelle Murray, who will be seeking the program's first national championship since 1984. Murray is one of 12 athletes competing in the discus finals.

Last month, Wichmann captured her second consecutive WAC heptathlon title with a school-record total of 5,557 points. Last year, in her first NCAA Championship appearance, Wichmann placed 17th.

Washington State's Diana Pickler, the top-ranked heptathlete in this year's field, was disqualified after an apparent lane violation in the 200-meter dash.

NCAA Championship Live Results

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