BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ben Johnson set multiple personal bests to finish day one of the NCAA Indoor Championships men's heptathlon with 3,180 points, Friday evening at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
 
Ben Johnson completed day one of the men's heptathlon with a personal best heptathlon day one score of 3,180 points. Johnson currently sits in 10th place, 243 points behind leader Gabe Moore of Arkansas.
 
The redshirt senior started the day running a personal best 7.08 to finish 12th in the 60m dash, followed by setting another personal best on his second attempt in the long jump with a mark of 7.02m/23-0.5. After two events Johnson was sitting 12th with 1,672 points.

"I was really excited heading into my first national meet," said Johnson. "I've always said the multi's are like a snowball effect, once you get the first event going well, the rest just follows."
 
Johnson carried his momentum into the third event of the day setting an official personal best shot put mark of 14.50m/47-7. He finished second in the event propelling him to 10th overall with 2,431 points after three events.
 
On the final event of the day, Johnson entered the high jump at 1.82m/5-11.5, clearing it on his first attempt. He would clear the next two heights of 1.85m/6-0.75 and 1.88m/6-2 on his first attempts, before topping out at 1.94m/6-4.25.
 
Day two continues Saturday, March 9 with the 60m hurdles at 11:45 a.m., followed by the pole vault at 12:35 p.m., and concluding with the 1000m run at 4:00 p.m.