Track: Stechschulte Nabs Olympic Trials Standard
April 05, 2007 08:28 PM | General
April 5, 2007
AUSTIN, TEXAS – West Virginia University junior Abbie Stechschulte took fourth place in the heptathlon at the 80th Annual Texas Relays with an Olympic Trials ‘B’ standard score of 5,609 points on Thursday, April 5, at the Mike A. Myers Stadium.
The Columbus Grove, Ohio, native’s score is the fifth best in the nation. It is also a BIG EAST and an automatic NCAA qualifier. Additionally, it is the second best score in WVU history, 75 points shy of Pat Itanyi’s record.
“This meet was arguably the best collegiate heptathlon meet in history,” says coach Jeff Huntoon. “I knew Abbie had it in her to score well over 5,000 points, and I couldn’t be happier. She and her family are both ecstatic.”
Washington State senior Diana Pickler won the event with 6,205 points, the best score for an American in over two years.
Stechschulte, entering today’s competition in fourth place, picked up right where she left off, taking sixth in the long jump with a BIG EAST qualifying leap of 5.77 meters. She then nabbed her second conference qualifier of the day, taking eighth in the javelin with a throw of 36.02 meters.
Stechschulte ended the day strong, placing fifth in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:18.37.
All told, Stechschulte qualified for five events at the Relays.
The Mountaineers were also well represented in the 4x800 relay today, as the team of Keri Bland, Marie Louise Asselin, Karly Hamric and Alison Spiker took 10th, stopping the clock at 9:01.67.
The Relays resume tomorrow, April 6, at the Mike A. Myers Stadium. WVU will participate in the 4x100 relay, the 100 meter hurdles, the 100 meter dash and the high jump.
