TicketsKNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The first day of competition at the Tennessee Relays came to a close Thursday with Angelica Lightfoot recording a banner day in the heptathlon at the meet being held at Tom Black Track in Knoxville, Tenn.
// LIGHTFOOT LIGHTS IT UP
To say Lightfoot had a career in the heptathlon Thursday would be an understatement as the sophomore recorded personal-best marks in all four of the individual events on the day to score a career-best 3,274 points for Day One, the third-best total in program history. Lightfoot opened the day in the 100m hurdles and raced to a time of 14.11 for 963 points and the second-fastest time of the day overall. Her time, which is a PR by 0.79 seconds in the heptathlon and 0.14 seconds all-time, ranks not only as the third-fastest time in UC heptathlon history, but also as the 10th-best time in the 100m hurdles event in UC history.
Lightfoot then took part in the high jump and cleared a PR height of 1.67m (5-05.75) to tie for the win and add 818 points to her total. In the overall lead for the first time on the day following the seventh-best heptathlon high jump clearance in UC history, Lightfoot moved on to the shot put where she heaved the ball to 12.41m (40-08.75) for 688 points. That mark was a 7.25" PR for Lightfoot and also gave her the UC heptathlon shot put record that was set in 2015 by Kaitlyn Good, who held the mark at 12.24m (40-02.00), which was just 1cm ahead of Lightfoot's previous best.
Finally, Lightfoot returned to the track and raced in the 200m dash. Her mark of 25.91, which was wind-aided with a tailwind of 3.9 meters per second, scored her 805 more points and placed her ninth on the program's all-time Top 10 heptathlon 200m list. Despite finishing eighth overall in the final event of the day, Lightfoot will head into the final three events Friday morning with a nine-point lead over Maya Neal of Tennessee, who sits second with 3,265 points.
// ONE HEP OF A HIGH JUMP
Lightfoot was not the only Bearcats heptathlete to have a strong showing in the high jump as all four women posted personal-best clearances in the event Thursday. Lightfoot joined Maggie Loeffler and Naomi Urbano in tying for the win as each woman was able to clear 1.67m (5-05.75) to score 818 points. That mark ties all three for the #7 position on the program's heptathlon high jump Top 10. Added to that list as well was Katie Straus, who cleared 1.64m (5-04.50) for 783 points and the #10 position on the Top 10 ledger.
// BLOOM CHALLENGING
Despite competing in a decathlon one week earlier, Bloom was back at once again this week as he looks to lock-up a score that will qualify him to the NCAA Outdoor Championships and, after the first day of action, looks to be on his way as he scored 4,051 points to sit second overall in the competition and break his own program Day One score record.
To get to his total, Bloom got off to a fast start as he broke 11 seconds for the first time in his career in the 100m dash, winning the event at 10.90 for 883 points and a tie for the UC decathlon 100m dash record with Jim Schnur, who ran that time 43 years ago in 1975. That time also makes him just the third Bearcats man to run under 11 seconds in the event, joining Schnur, his current coach Chris Wineberg (10.94 in 2004) and Jimmy Mount (10.97 in 2005). From there, Bloom jumped to 7.07m (23-02.50) in the long jump to add 830 points before throwing the shot put to 12.69m (41-07.75) for an additional 648 points.
Bloom then won the high jump, clearing 2.10m (6-10.75) for the second week in a row to ad another 896 points to his total. Finally, Bloom's first day of action came to a close as he ran a time of 50.46 in the 400m dash to better his previous best (50.68) run last week and move up to #9 on the program's decathlon 400m chart.
In the same competition, Ben Wollenslegel finished his first day of action in ninth place overall with 3,474 points, which is a personal-best score. To get to that total, Wollenslegel recorded personal bests in four events, including a jump of 6.82m (22-04.50) in the long jump that ranks him seventh on the program's all-time Top 10 decathlon long jump ledger. Wollenslegel's other PR marks came in the 100m dash (11.46), shot put (10.90m) and high jump (1.86m/6-01.25).
// MORE ON THE HEPTATHLON
Straus, Loeffler and Urbano stand ninth, 10th and 12th, respectively, in the heptathlon following the first day of competition. Straus, competing in her first collegiate heptathlon, scored 2,854 points as all five of her marks (overall score and each of the four individual events) were personal bests. On the day, Straus finished 10th overall in the 100m hurdles at 15.19, tied for seventh in the high jump, was seventh in the shot put at 9.85m (32-03.75) and 11th in the 200m dash (26.73).
Loeffler ended the day with 2,827 points after finishing in the Top 12 in three events (10th in the shot put, 12th in the hurdles and 13th in the 200m dash) while tying for the event win in the high jump with her teammates. Urbano, the reigning American Athletic Conference champion, scored 2,666 points on the first day of action.
// HAMMER TIME
Alexis Gray finished ninth in a very deep women's hammer field, hitting a mark of 50.61m (166-00) on the day. Gray, who was in the first flight of throwers, had the second-best mark in the opening flight and held on to make the final where she was unable to improve her mark.
In the men's competition, Sam Meece was the top finisher for the Bearcats as he placed 11th overall with a best of 52.64m (172-08). Marcus Abraham also competed in the event and placed 14th overall in 45.45m (149-01).
// ON DECK
Action continues at the Tennessee Relays Friday at 10 a.m. with the second day of competition in the decathlon while the running events get underway at 2:45 p.m. and the field events at 3 p.m. Several other athletes will be competing at the Miami Duals with the field events taking place Friday starting at noon with the men's hammer and javelin. Running events will take place Saturday in Oxford.
Tennessee Relays
April 12 (Day 1) • Tom Black Stadium • Knoxville, Tenn.
Women's Results
Hammer
9. Alexis Gray • 50.61m (166-00)
Heptathlon
1. Angelica Lightfoot • 3,274 points • PR & UC #3
9. Katie Straus • 2,854 points • PR
10. Maggie Loeffler • 2,827 points
12. Naomi Urbano • 2,666 points
HEP #1 • 100m Hurdles
2. Angelica Lightfoot • 14.11 (+1.3) [963 pts] • PR & UC #10 & UC HEP #3
10. Katie Straus • 15.19 (+1.2) [817 pts] • PR
12. Maggie Loeffler • 15.40 (+0.8) [790 pts]
14. Naomi Urbano • 16.21 (+0.9) [689 pts]
HEP #2 • High Jump
t1. Angelica Lightfoot • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818 pts] • PR & UC HEP #7 (tie)
t1. Maggie Loeffler • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818 pts] • PR & UC HEP #7 (tie)
t1. Naomi Urbano • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818 pts] • HEP PR & UC HEP #7 (tie)
t7. Katie Straus • 1.64m (5-04.50) [783 pts] • PR & UC HEP #10
HEP #3 • Shot Put
1. Angelica Lightfoot • 12.41m (40-08.75) [688 pts] • PR & UC HEP RECORD
4. Naomi Urbano • 10.72m (35-02.00) [577 pts]
7. Katie Straus • 9.85m (32-03.75) [520 pts] • PR
10. Maggie Loeffler • 9.72m (31-10.75) [511 pts]
HEP #4 • 200m Dash
8. Angelica Lightfoot • w25.91 (+3.6) [805 pts] • PR & UC HEP #9
11. Katie Straus • w26.73 (+3.6) [734 pts] • PR
13. Maggie Loeffler • w27.04 (+3.6) [708 pts]
15. Naomi Urbano • w28.63 (+2.5) [582 pts]
Men's Results
Hammer
11. Sam Meece • 52.64m (172-08)
14. Marcus Abraham • 45.45m (149-01)
Decathlon
2. Alex Bloom • 4,051 points • PR & UC RECORD
9. Ben Wollenslegel • 3,473 points • PR
DEC #1 • 100m Dash
1. Alex Bloom • 10.90 (+1.6) [883 pts] • PR & UC DEC RECORD (tie)
9. Ben Wollenslegel • 11.46 (+1.6) [761 pts] • PR
DEC #2 • Long Jump
3. Alex Bloom • 7.07m (23-02.50)(+1.6) [830 pts]
5. Ben Wollenslegel • 6.82m (22-04.50)(+1.9) [771 pts] • PR & UC DEC #7
DEC #3 • Shot Put
2. Alex Bloom • 12.69m (41-07.75) [648 pts]
12. Ben Wollenslegel • 10.90m (35-09.25) [540 pts] • PR
DEC #4 • High Jump
1. Alex Bloom • 2.10m (6-10.75) [896 pts]
t9. Ben Wollenslegel • 1.86m (6-01.25) [679 pts] • =DEC PR
DEC #5 • 400m Dash
3. Alex Bloom • 50.46 [794 pts] • PR & UC DEC #9
7. Ben Wollenslegel • 52.06 [722 pts]
// LIGHTFOOT LIGHTS IT UP
To say Lightfoot had a career in the heptathlon Thursday would be an understatement as the sophomore recorded personal-best marks in all four of the individual events on the day to score a career-best 3,274 points for Day One, the third-best total in program history. Lightfoot opened the day in the 100m hurdles and raced to a time of 14.11 for 963 points and the second-fastest time of the day overall. Her time, which is a PR by 0.79 seconds in the heptathlon and 0.14 seconds all-time, ranks not only as the third-fastest time in UC heptathlon history, but also as the 10th-best time in the 100m hurdles event in UC history.
Lightfoot then took part in the high jump and cleared a PR height of 1.67m (5-05.75) to tie for the win and add 818 points to her total. In the overall lead for the first time on the day following the seventh-best heptathlon high jump clearance in UC history, Lightfoot moved on to the shot put where she heaved the ball to 12.41m (40-08.75) for 688 points. That mark was a 7.25" PR for Lightfoot and also gave her the UC heptathlon shot put record that was set in 2015 by Kaitlyn Good, who held the mark at 12.24m (40-02.00), which was just 1cm ahead of Lightfoot's previous best.
Finally, Lightfoot returned to the track and raced in the 200m dash. Her mark of 25.91, which was wind-aided with a tailwind of 3.9 meters per second, scored her 805 more points and placed her ninth on the program's all-time Top 10 heptathlon 200m list. Despite finishing eighth overall in the final event of the day, Lightfoot will head into the final three events Friday morning with a nine-point lead over Maya Neal of Tennessee, who sits second with 3,265 points.
// ONE HEP OF A HIGH JUMP
Lightfoot was not the only Bearcats heptathlete to have a strong showing in the high jump as all four women posted personal-best clearances in the event Thursday. Lightfoot joined Maggie Loeffler and Naomi Urbano in tying for the win as each woman was able to clear 1.67m (5-05.75) to score 818 points. That mark ties all three for the #7 position on the program's heptathlon high jump Top 10. Added to that list as well was Katie Straus, who cleared 1.64m (5-04.50) for 783 points and the #10 position on the Top 10 ledger.
// BLOOM CHALLENGING
Despite competing in a decathlon one week earlier, Bloom was back at once again this week as he looks to lock-up a score that will qualify him to the NCAA Outdoor Championships and, after the first day of action, looks to be on his way as he scored 4,051 points to sit second overall in the competition and break his own program Day One score record.
To get to his total, Bloom got off to a fast start as he broke 11 seconds for the first time in his career in the 100m dash, winning the event at 10.90 for 883 points and a tie for the UC decathlon 100m dash record with Jim Schnur, who ran that time 43 years ago in 1975. That time also makes him just the third Bearcats man to run under 11 seconds in the event, joining Schnur, his current coach Chris Wineberg (10.94 in 2004) and Jimmy Mount (10.97 in 2005). From there, Bloom jumped to 7.07m (23-02.50) in the long jump to add 830 points before throwing the shot put to 12.69m (41-07.75) for an additional 648 points.
Bloom then won the high jump, clearing 2.10m (6-10.75) for the second week in a row to ad another 896 points to his total. Finally, Bloom's first day of action came to a close as he ran a time of 50.46 in the 400m dash to better his previous best (50.68) run last week and move up to #9 on the program's decathlon 400m chart.
In the same competition, Ben Wollenslegel finished his first day of action in ninth place overall with 3,474 points, which is a personal-best score. To get to that total, Wollenslegel recorded personal bests in four events, including a jump of 6.82m (22-04.50) in the long jump that ranks him seventh on the program's all-time Top 10 decathlon long jump ledger. Wollenslegel's other PR marks came in the 100m dash (11.46), shot put (10.90m) and high jump (1.86m/6-01.25).
// MORE ON THE HEPTATHLON
Straus, Loeffler and Urbano stand ninth, 10th and 12th, respectively, in the heptathlon following the first day of competition. Straus, competing in her first collegiate heptathlon, scored 2,854 points as all five of her marks (overall score and each of the four individual events) were personal bests. On the day, Straus finished 10th overall in the 100m hurdles at 15.19, tied for seventh in the high jump, was seventh in the shot put at 9.85m (32-03.75) and 11th in the 200m dash (26.73).
Loeffler ended the day with 2,827 points after finishing in the Top 12 in three events (10th in the shot put, 12th in the hurdles and 13th in the 200m dash) while tying for the event win in the high jump with her teammates. Urbano, the reigning American Athletic Conference champion, scored 2,666 points on the first day of action.
// HAMMER TIME
Alexis Gray finished ninth in a very deep women's hammer field, hitting a mark of 50.61m (166-00) on the day. Gray, who was in the first flight of throwers, had the second-best mark in the opening flight and held on to make the final where she was unable to improve her mark.
In the men's competition, Sam Meece was the top finisher for the Bearcats as he placed 11th overall with a best of 52.64m (172-08). Marcus Abraham also competed in the event and placed 14th overall in 45.45m (149-01).
// ON DECK
Action continues at the Tennessee Relays Friday at 10 a.m. with the second day of competition in the decathlon while the running events get underway at 2:45 p.m. and the field events at 3 p.m. Several other athletes will be competing at the Miami Duals with the field events taking place Friday starting at noon with the men's hammer and javelin. Running events will take place Saturday in Oxford.
Tennessee Relays
April 12 (Day 1) • Tom Black Stadium • Knoxville, Tenn.
Women's Results
Hammer
9. Alexis Gray • 50.61m (166-00)
Heptathlon
1. Angelica Lightfoot • 3,274 points • PR & UC #3
9. Katie Straus • 2,854 points • PR
10. Maggie Loeffler • 2,827 points
12. Naomi Urbano • 2,666 points
HEP #1 • 100m Hurdles
2. Angelica Lightfoot • 14.11 (+1.3) [963 pts] • PR & UC #10 & UC HEP #3
10. Katie Straus • 15.19 (+1.2) [817 pts] • PR
12. Maggie Loeffler • 15.40 (+0.8) [790 pts]
14. Naomi Urbano • 16.21 (+0.9) [689 pts]
HEP #2 • High Jump
t1. Angelica Lightfoot • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818 pts] • PR & UC HEP #7 (tie)
t1. Maggie Loeffler • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818 pts] • PR & UC HEP #7 (tie)
t1. Naomi Urbano • 1.67m (5-05.75) [818 pts] • HEP PR & UC HEP #7 (tie)
t7. Katie Straus • 1.64m (5-04.50) [783 pts] • PR & UC HEP #10
HEP #3 • Shot Put
1. Angelica Lightfoot • 12.41m (40-08.75) [688 pts] • PR & UC HEP RECORD
4. Naomi Urbano • 10.72m (35-02.00) [577 pts]
7. Katie Straus • 9.85m (32-03.75) [520 pts] • PR
10. Maggie Loeffler • 9.72m (31-10.75) [511 pts]
HEP #4 • 200m Dash
8. Angelica Lightfoot • w25.91 (+3.6) [805 pts] • PR & UC HEP #9
11. Katie Straus • w26.73 (+3.6) [734 pts] • PR
13. Maggie Loeffler • w27.04 (+3.6) [708 pts]
15. Naomi Urbano • w28.63 (+2.5) [582 pts]
Men's Results
Hammer
11. Sam Meece • 52.64m (172-08)
14. Marcus Abraham • 45.45m (149-01)
Decathlon
2. Alex Bloom • 4,051 points • PR & UC RECORD
9. Ben Wollenslegel • 3,473 points • PR
DEC #1 • 100m Dash
1. Alex Bloom • 10.90 (+1.6) [883 pts] • PR & UC DEC RECORD (tie)
9. Ben Wollenslegel • 11.46 (+1.6) [761 pts] • PR
DEC #2 • Long Jump
3. Alex Bloom • 7.07m (23-02.50)(+1.6) [830 pts]
5. Ben Wollenslegel • 6.82m (22-04.50)(+1.9) [771 pts] • PR & UC DEC #7
DEC #3 • Shot Put
2. Alex Bloom • 12.69m (41-07.75) [648 pts]
12. Ben Wollenslegel • 10.90m (35-09.25) [540 pts] • PR
DEC #4 • High Jump
1. Alex Bloom • 2.10m (6-10.75) [896 pts]
t9. Ben Wollenslegel • 1.86m (6-01.25) [679 pts] • =DEC PR
DEC #5 • 400m Dash
3. Alex Bloom • 50.46 [794 pts] • PR & UC DEC #9
7. Ben Wollenslegel • 52.06 [722 pts]