Tuesday, March 01, 2016

Beach & Nwaba take titles at USATF Indoor Combined Events Championships

 

2/28/2016
 
CRETE, Nebraska -- Multi-eventers Curtis Beach and Barbara Nwaba (Santa Barbara TC; UC Santa Barbara 2011; University HS, Los Angeles 2007) won USATF Indoor Combined Events Championships during the two-day event at Doane College Friday and Saturday, Feb. 26-27.

The first four heptathlon events were contested Friday as Dillon Hopkins won the opening 60-meter hurdles in 6.97, and Beach went 7.42m/24-04.25 in long jump. Moss Miller tossed 14.83m/48-08 in shot put, and Dillon Schrodt cleared 2.10m/6-10.75 for the best mark in high jump.

At the end of Day 1, leaders were Beach with 3,270 points, Japheth Cato with 3,246 and Schrodt with 3,179.

With all pentathlon events taking place Sunday, Nwaba claimed the title by a 138-point margin but also had a tough start and an up and down day.

In the opening pentathlon event, the fastest 60mH time went to Kaylon Eppinger, who ran 8.18. Chari Hawkins crossed next in 8.36 before Lindsey Lettow was third in 8.40. Nwaba finished sixth in sprint hurdles but was eager to rebound going into the second event.

In high jump, Nwaba was the only competitor in the field to clear above 1.74/5-08.5, as she ultimately went up and over 1.83m/6-0 for the best mark of the day. She took second place in the shot put, throwing 14.06m/46-01.50 to Tatum Souza’s (UCLA 2015; Napa HS 2010) 14.4m/47-03, and Nwaba was fifth in long jump after fouls on her first two trips down the runway. She marked her third and final opportunity at 5.60/18-4.5.

Ending the day on a strong note, Nwaba won the 800m in 2:15.85 for the title ahead of 800m finishes by Ellen Wortham at 2:17.91 and Lettow at 2:19.08. Top three pentathlon points totals were Nwaba with 4,415, Eppinger with 4,385 and Hawkins with 4, 225.

Heptathlon concluded Sunday with Beach off to a strong start with a 60mH finish in 8.07. Cato was best in pole vault at 5.20m/17-0.75, and Beach ended the day on top, clocking 2:37.66 and taking the title with 6,075 points. Rounding out the podium were Cato in second with 5,875 and Moss Miller with 5,712 points.


Christa Mann
Marketing & Communications Manager
USA Track & Field
317.713.4672
e-mail

No comments: