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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Area roundup: WSU’s Alissa Brooks-Johnson takes sixth in heptathlon at Nationals

Alissa Brooks-Johnson competes in the javelin during the 2014 Pac-12 Track and Field Championships on May 17, 2014, at Mooberry Track and Field Complex in Pullman, Wash. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)
From wire reports

Washington State’s Alissa Brooks-Johnson overcame a strong national field and deplorable weather conditions to capture sixth place in the heptathlon Saturday at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Brooks-Johnson, a redshirt junior and two-time Pac-12 Champion, ended the first day’s four events in 12th position with 3,251 points. On Saturday she had solid performances in the final three events to score a season-best 5,658 points and claim a scoring position and All-America honors. Georgia’s Kendell Williams won with 6,265 points.

Brooks-Johnson fouled her first and third long jump attempts but soared to a lifetime-best distance of 19-feet 2 1/2 inches (5.85m) on her second attempt which allotted her 804 points and moved her up to ninth-place.

In the javelin, which was halted briefly when the driving rain turned to hail, Brooks-Johnson threw a season-best distance of 145-0 (44.21m) in her first attempt, just under her PR mark if 146-10 (44.75m). She followed up with a pair of solid throws of 142-5 and 139-0. She tallied 748 points to move up to sixth place in the heptathlon standings.

Three hours later, in the best weather conditions of all seven heptathlon events, Brooks-Johnson showed her strength with an 800-meters time of 2 minutes 17.70 seconds, seventh-fastest of the remaining 18 competitors, to ensure her sixth-place scoring standing and All-America honor.