Heptathlon Results | Pentathlon Results | Team Challenge Results | Day 1 Recap

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Junior Ben Johnson set a personal best in all three events of Day two at the Air Force Combined Events Meet to win the heptathlon with a score of 5,615.
 
Johnson led the heptathlon at the end of day one with 3,064 points, 27 points ahead of second place. The multi-athlete would go on to set personal records in the 60m hurdles, pole vault and 1000m to win the heptathlon with 5,615 points, 197 points ahead of second place. His combined total is third best in the nation, fifth all-time in Shocker history and a personal record.
 
"After day 1 I didn't think I could get 5,600, but I was feeling good this morning," junior Ben Johnson said. "I had a huge PR in the hurdles and I kept that momentum going into the pole vault. I was a little worried about the altitude for the 1000m, but I ran hard and hung on for a three second PR."
 
Freshman Jake Horsch had personal records in the 60m hurdles and pole vault to finish the heptathlon in third place with a personal best 5,071 points.
 

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Wichita State's men's team finished first with 134 points and the women's team took second with 118.5 points. 24 personal records were broken during the team challenge as both the men and women had strong performances.
 
"I am so pleased with both the men's and women's teams, event by event our athletes competed hard and showed up tough," head track and field director Steve Rainbolt said. "Winning the men's meet is particularly impressive against three other teams in the top 25 national dual meet rankings."
 
Records, Records, Records
Sophomore Denvoir Griffin was the highlight of the night breaking a 15-year old 60m school record winning the finals with a time of 6.76. Griffin finished first in the prelims in 6.81, good enough to equal the school record set by Bruce Swan. He wasn't the only Shocker who would set a personal record in a preliminary race and then break it in the finals. Hunter Veith won the 60m hurdles prelim in what was a personal record 8.07, until he won the finals race in 7.94 which is fourth fastest in Shocker history. Louis Rivers IV ran 8.38 in the 60m hurdles prelim to qualify for the finals, where he would run a personal record 8.23. On the women's side, Alexi Whatley finished third in the 60m hurdles with a time of 8.97, in the finals she finished with a personal record 8.93.
 
How Sweep It Is
Led by All-American Jared Belardo, the Shocker men would take first, second and third in both the long jump and triple jump. Belardo won the long jump with a mark of 7.56m/24-9.75, followed by fellow All-American Veith in second (7.52m/24-8.25) and true freshman Rayvon Allen in third (7.35m/24-1.5).  Belardo's success carried over to the triple jump, winning the event with a mark of 15.42m/50-7.25. Allen placed second (15.14m/49-8.25) and Kaden Griffin in third with a personal record 15.13m/49-7.75. The women followed the men by taking first and second in the long jump and triple jump. Meghan Holmes would win the long jump (5.68m/18-7.75) and Skaila White would place second (5.39m/17-8.25), both with personal records. Holmes would win the triple jump with an indoor personal record 12.37m/40-7, followed by White in second with her own personal record 11.76m/38-7.

"I was extremely pleased and proud of the way the men and women competed in the long and triple jumps," assistant coach Heidi Yost said. "They put up great marks for an early season meet."
 
The jumps weren't the only events the Shocks would take top honors, Kelsey Slawson won the women's shot put with a mark of 14.94m/49-0.25 and Tyra Bickham would take second (14.57m/47-9.75).
 
"Overall this was a wonderful trip," Bolt said. "I'm happy about how it continues our preparation for the American Athletic Conference Championship that starts five weeks from today."

The Shockers compete next at the Pittsburg State Invitational Friday, Jan. 26 in Pittsburg, Kan.
 

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Personal Records

Men's Heptathlon 60m
Ben Johnson – 7.15
Jake Horsch – 7.15
Davis Bahner – 7.19
 
Men's Heptathlon Long Jump
Grant Downes – 6.47m/21-2.75
Lucas Shaffer – 6.10m/20-0.25
 
Women's Pentathlon High Jump
Kendra Henry – 1.61m/5-3.25
 
Men's Heptathlon Shot Put
Grant Downes – 11.13m/36-6.5
Lucas Shaffer – 10.09m/33-1.5
 
Women's Pentathlon Shot Put
Kendra Henry – 11.72m/38-5.75
 
Men's Heptathlon High Jump
Kaden Griffin – 1.94m/6-4.25
Lucas Shaffer – 1.91m/6-3.25
Jake Horsch – 1.82m/5-11.5
Grant Downes – 1.76m/5-9.25
 
Women's Pentathlon Long Jump
Kendra Henry – 4.91m/16-1.5
 
Women's Pentathlon
Kendra Henry – 3,365

Men's Heptathlon 60m Hurdles
Ben Johnson - 8.11
Jake Horsch - 8.49
Grant Downes - 8.58
Kaden Griffin - 8.72
Lucas Shaffer - 9.23

Men's Heptathlon Pole Vault
Ben Johnson - 4.70m/15-5
Jake Horsch - 4.00m/13-1.5
Lucas Shaffer - 3.80m/12-5.5

Men's Heptathlon 1000m
Ben Johnson - 2:49.12

Men's Heptathlon
Ben Johnson - 5,615
Jake Horsch - 5,071
Grant Downes - 4,753
Lucas Shaffer - 4,384

Men's 60m
Denvoir Griffin - 6.76 (School Record)
Clifford Robinson III - 6.88

Women's 60m
Skaila White - 7.91

Men's 200m
Denvoir Griffin - 22.31
Richard Sandefur - 22.52
Louis Rivers IV - 22.78

Men's 400m
Jace Coppoc - 49.78

Men's 60m Hurdles
Hunter Veith - 7.94
Louis Rivers IV - 8.23
Adam Mudge - 8.65

Women's 60m Hurdles
Alexi Whatley - 8.93

Women's High Jump
Katie Murray - 1.71m/5-7.25

Women's Pole Vault
Alyssa Wheeler - 3.65m/11-11.75
Jewel Eck - 3.50m/11-5.75

Men's Long Jump
Rayvon Allen - 7.35m/24-1.5

Women's Long Jump
Meghan Holmes - 5.68m/18-7.75
Skaila White - 5.39m/17-8.25
Kendra Henry - 4.80m/15-9

Men's Triple Jump
Kaden Griffin - 15.13m/49-7.75

Women's Triple Jump
Skaila White - 11.76m/38-7

Men's Weight Throw
Isaiah Evans - 17.97m/58-11.50
Tyler Patterson - 14.65m/48-0.75

Women's Weight Throw
Meagan Williams - 17.04m/55-11
Amanda Kakoulias - 12.47m/40-11