May 9, 2008

Decathlon Day One Results

Heptathlon Day One Results

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Northridge sophomores Desirae Gonder and Robert Robinson are in second place in the heptathlon and decathlon respectively after day one of the Big West Championship Multi-Events at the Matador Track and Field Complex.

Northridge was enjoying a solid afternoon in both the heptathlon and decathlon until one of the favorites in the decathlon, Justin Johnson went down with an injury in the high jump, the second-to-last event of the day. Johnson could not compete in the 400 meters and will miss the rest of the competiton.

At the time of his injury, Johnson was in second place behind Long Beach State's Chris Richardson and the Matadors held the second, third (Robinson) and fifth place spots (Owen Morse).

Robinson finished the day with 3,734 points and trails Big West favorite Richardson (3,988) by 254 points heading into the final day of the decathlon on Saturday. Morse is currently fourth with 3,458 points.

Robinson ran a lifetime-best 11.12 in the 100 meters, jumped a season-best 7.02 in the long jump, threw 40-7.75 in the shot put, jumped a career-best 6-1.25 (1.86) in the high jump and ran 50.91 in the 400 meters.

Morse ran a lifetime-best 11.32 in the 100 meters, jumped a career-best 6.53 in the long jump and posted a season-best 6-2.25 (1.89) in the high jump.

Before going down with an injury, Johnson jumped a season-best 6.98 in the long jump.

In the heptathlon, Gonder has 3,112 points heading into Saturday's final three events. Shelese Ruffin is second (2,958 points), Stella Dugall is eighth (2,622), Ashleigh McGrew is ninth (2,612) and Sherrina Lofton is 11th (2,558).

Gonder trails heptathlon leader and Big West favorite Sharon Day of Cal Poly by 306 points. Gonder finished just off her lifetime-best in the 110 meter hurdles (14.86), finished second in the high jump after clearing a lifetime-best 5-10.75 (1.80), threw 26-9 (8.15) in the shot put and ran a career-best 25.24 in the 200 meters.

Ruffin posted a lifetime-best of 14.91 in the 110 hurdles and was second to teammate Sherrina Lofton in the 200 meters at 24.39. McGrew, competing in the Big West Multi's for the first time, won the 110 hurdles in a time of 14.38 to pick up 925 points.

The second and final day of competiton in the decathlon and heptathlon gets underway Saturday at 11 a.m.

- GO MATADORS -