MARIA ROMERO WINS WSU INVITATIONAL PENTATHLON
 
WICHITA—The Wichita State track and field teams opened the weekend Thursday with the first day of competition in the WSU Invitational at the Heskett Center.
 
Maria Romero won the pentathlon competition with 3,440 points. She used wins in the 60-meter hurdles and the 800 meters to take the crown. Romero also had third-place finishes in the shot put and long jump.
 
Jalen Milligan finished the competition in fourth overall using a win in the shot put and a one-centimeter PR in the high jump to clinch her second top-five pentathlon finish this season.
 
"I'm certainly proud of Maria Romero and the other girls as well," said Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Steve Rainbolt. "They had some good performances in their pentathlons."
 
Grant Downes was consistent across the board, finishing fifth or better in each of the four events on the first day of heptathlon competition. Downes tied his PR in the high jump, clearing 1.80m/5-10.75.
 
Chonnor Ludolph is in third after the first day. In Ludolph's first multi contest in a Shocker uniform, he threw the shot 11.11m/36-5.50 for a 33-centimeter PR.
 
Clay Eckert is in fourth, and Rainbolt said he is excited to see what Eckert will do on day two because the 60-meter hurdles and pole vault are strong events for Eckert.
 
"The guys are off to a good start generally, but we've got some aches and pains we're having to nurse," Rainbolt said. "We've got to take care of them if we want to have a good conference meet. It's frustrating to deal with injuries, but it's a part of what we do. 
 
"At the end of the day, I liked the way the kids competed."
 
RESULTS
 
Men's Individual Results
 
Heptathlon (Day One)
2. Grant Downes – 2,577 points
            5. 60 Meters – 7.38
            5. Long Jump – 6.14m/10-1.75
            3. Shot Put – 11.58m/38-0
            5. High Jump – 1.80m/5-10.75
3. Chonnor Ludolph – 2,572 points
            3. 60 Meters – 7.27
            4. Long Jump – 6.19m/20-3.75
            5. Shot Put – 11.11m/36-5.50
            T6. High Jump – 1.77m/5-9.75
4. Clay Eckert – 2,501 points
            6. 60 Meters – 7.40
            3. Long Jump – 6.29m/20-7.75
            9. Shot Put – 9.89m/32-5.50
            4. High Jump – 1.80m/5-10.75
6. Davis Dubbert – 2,429 points
            12. 60 Meters – 8.04
            8. Long Jump – 5.91m/19-4.75
            2. Shot Put – 11.61m/38-1.25
            2. High Jump – 1.92m/6-3.50
8. Lucas Shaffer – 2,264 points
            11. 60 Meters – 7.93
            7. Long Jump – 6.03m/19-9.50
            7. Shot Put – 10.05m/32-11.75
            T6. High Jump – 1.77m/5-9.75
--. Chandler Stiawalt
            7. 60 Meters – 7.49
            1. Long Jump – 6.45m/21-2
            1. Chandler Stiawalt – 11.98m/39-3.75
            --. High Jump - DNS
 
Women's Individual Results
 
Pentathlon
1. Maria Romero – 3,440 points
            1. 60-Meter Hurdles – 8.96
            6. High Jump – 1.53m/5-0.25
            3. Shot Put – 9.92m/32-6.50
            3. Long Jump – 5.13m/16-10
            1. 800 Meters – 2:25.70
4. Jalen Milligan – 3,134 points
            5. 60-Meter Hurdles – 9.19
            5. High Jump – 1.53m/5-0.25
            2. Shot Put – 11.50m/37-8.75
            1. Long Jump – 5.31m/17-5.25
            13. 800 Meters – 3:03.28
7. Sydney Wilson – 2,942 points
            2. 60-Meter Hurdles – 8.98
            2. High Jump – 1.62m/5-3.75
            1. Shot Put – 11.70m/38-4.75
            2. Long Jump – 5.25m/17-2.75
            --. 800 Meters – DNF
8. Hannah Cole – 2,937 points
            8. 60-Meter Hurdles – 9.78
            10. High Jump – 1.44m/4-8.75
            4. Shot Put – 9.71m/31-10.25
            4. Long Jump – 5.00m/16-5
            7. 800 Meters – 2:41.21