Mohl Takes Big Sky Decathlon Title
5/10/2012 10:10:00 PM | Track & Field
Bobcats have a big second day to close out the multis competition
Day Two of the 2012 Big Sky Championships truly showed the depth of the multi events. On a day delayed by the typical late spring Montana snow storm, it bared no weight on any Montana State athlete. (Day 2 Heptathlon Results | Final Heptathlon Scores | Day 2 Decathlon Results | Final Decathlon Scores)
Jeff Mohl and Asa Staven both had remarkable days in the decathlon and stood up to the tough conditions of a lengthy second day of events. Mohl placed among the top three in all but two events of the decathlon, winning four of the ten individual events.
His overall score of 7,630 set a new Bobcat Track and Field Complex record. He was just three points shy of a new program record, which was previous set by Harry Clark back in 1989.
Mohl ended with a personal best in the long jump after day one (7.44m/24-05)as well as a season's best in the 110 hurdles (14.78).
“I had a pretty good first day,” said Mohl. “I wanted to keep it going and was hoping for a few more PR's. I'm happy about the win but in this sport, no matter how you do, you always want a little more.”
Staven's second place finish also put on a good show and certainly showed a tremendous effort from the reigning Big Sky Indoor Heptathlon champion. Staven won two individual events, coming in second in four of them. He posted personal bests in five events (100, long jump, 110 hurdles, discus and javelin), and tied in a sixth (pole vault).
Powhattan Williamson placed ninth overall, with 6,472 points and notched five lifetime best performances.
In the women's heptathlon, Montana State came away with finishers in second and third place, with all four competitors scoring and garnering four lifetime best scores along the way.
Event winner, Baiba Celma of Sacramento State won the heptathlon, capitalizing on a huge lead headed into the final event and ended a very impressive two days with a score of 5,279.
Carley McCutchen was the Bobcats' highest placer, earning the silver medal with 5,012, a new personal best for the sophomore, who has seen serious improvement throughout her 2012 campaign. She notched lifetime bests in four events over the two days, with new marks in the high jump (1.59m/5-02.50), shot put (9.97m/32-08.50), 200 (25.18) and javelin (31.66m/103-10). The Buckley, Wash. native's score now ranks her fourth all-time in program history. Last year, McCutchen placed ninth overall in the heptathlon.
Before the 800, McCutchen was nearly 400 points behind Celma, and went on to win the event to close the gap to about 260 points, but it wasn't enough to make the move into first, as Celma's eighth place finish was enough to solidify her first place performance.
Sarah McGree took the bronze medal also with a lifetime best score of 4,957 and tallied two individual bests in the 200 (25.57) and the javelin (36.57m/120-04).
Sadie McMillan, placed sixth overall with a score of 4,725, with personal bests in the 100 hurdles (14.82), 200 (26.13) and the javelin (35.78m/117-05).
Rounding out the Bobcat competitors was Kortnee Barrett who placed eighth overall. Barrett was in ninth headed into the 800 and put together a very strong race, clocking in at 2:25.97, for fourth in the race. That finish gave her 744 more points to up her one spot to eighth.
“All our multis athletes did a phenomenal job today,” said assistant coach Tom Eitel. “This was a hard day with long, tough conditions but everyone stuck it out, put forth a great effort and they all have a lot to be proud of, no matter where they finished.”
At the close of the heptathlon, Montana State leads with 18 points, followed by Sacramento State with 12. Idaho State has five, while Portland State has four points.
After the first day of scoring, the Bobcat men and women both sit in first place with 18 points apiece. Sacramento State is in second on the women's side with 12 points and Idaho State with the same tally on the men's.
The third day of the Big Sky Championships begins Friday, May 11, beginning with the men's javelin at 11:30 a.m. Running events are slated for a 3:30 p.m. start.
