BROOKINGS, S.D. – Mountaineers Track & Field is bringing home some more hardware as they racked up two All-American finishes in the heptathlon and had another athlete secure a top-eight spot in finals for Saturday. Highlighting the day once again was
TJ Davis who won the 2022 Indoor National Championship in the Heptathlon.
Davis entered the day as the event leader with 3,000 points. He kept his momentum from day one placing in the top-five in the final three events to walk away with 5,439 points and as the NAIA's best and top heptathlete. He edged second place by 55 points.
In the first event of the day, the 60-meter hurdles, Davis simply dominated the field. He ran 8.24, getting past second place by .23 seconds. In the pole vault, Davis had a valiant effort as he held on for a tie for fifth place. He cleared the bar at 13-7 ½ to secure the top-five spot. In the final event, the 1,000-meter run, Davis left no doubt in winning the overall title as he placed second in the race. He ran a 2:41.42 and became the second ever Heptathlon National Champion in EOU history.
Davis joins Robbie Haynie as the only other National Champion in the Heptathlon for EOU. Haynie won the Heptathlon title back-to-back years in 2011 and 2012.
Also earning a podium finish was
Sam Roddewig who surged from eighth after day one up to fifth with 4,820 points to earn his first career indoor All-American accolade. He finished in the top-five in his final two events to help finish in the top-five. He placed 10th in the hurdles to start the day, running a 9.02.
It was in the final two events where Roddewig made his surge and got his biggest boost from his efforts in the pole vault. He cleared the bar at a height of 14-3 ¼ to secure a third place finish, which was his best finish of any event. He wrapped up the day with a fourth place finish in the 1,000, running a 2:46.93 to secure his fifth place finish and All-America status.
Adding to the Mountaineers list of All-Americans was
Michelle Herbes. In the 800-meter prelims, she posted a time of 2:17.52 and placed seventh overall. Her time secures her a spot in Saturday's final and guarantees her indoor All-America status for the second consecutive year in an individual event and third straight overall.
Having a record breaking day was
Kenna Woodward in the weight throw. In prelims she hit a mark of 55-3 ½. Her throw mark broke April Haney's record of 55-2 ½ that stood since the 2001 indoor season. She ultimately qualified for finals, but just missed All-American status by one spot finishing ninth overall.
In the heptathlon, freshman
Judson Mansfield wrapped up his first Indoor Nationals placing 11th with 4,504 points. He ran a 9.05 in the hurdles, placing 11th. In the pole vault, he cleared 12-7 ¾ to finish ninth. In the 1,000 he ran a 2:58.17 to place 10th overall.
Also competing on day two of Indoor Nationals was
Cody Milmine in the 60-meter dash,
Hunter Nichols in the 800, and
Tyler Jones in the high jump.
Nichols just missed qualifying for finals in the 800, by .08 seconds. He ran a 1:54.51 and was one of 10 runners that clocked a sub 1:56 for the race. In the 60, Milmine ran a 6.90 to place 20th overall. In the high jump, Jone sno heighted the opening mark of 6-5 and did not place.
The final day of the 2022 Indoor National Championships will begin tomorrow, March 5, at 8 a.m. PT. Competing on the track for EOU will just be Herbes in the 800. In the field, three Mounties will compete in
Allexander Kosel in the triple jump,
Darrian Walker in the pole vault, and
Maggie Ledbetter in the shot put.
Ledbetter will be the first athlete to compete at 9 a.m. PT. Walker will be up next at 11:15 a.m. PT, followed by Herbes at 12:10 p.m. PT. Kosel will compete at 12:30 p.m. PT. To see the full list of events, click the respective link above. All times listed on the meet schedule are in Central Time Zone.
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