UNM's Fortner 14 Points Off The Lead After Day One Of MWC Heptathlon

by UNM Athletics

FORT WORTH, Texas – University of New Mexico junior Sandy Fortner recorded career bests in three of her four events to finish day one of the Mountain West Conference heptathlon competition in second place (3,393 points) this afternoon at TCU’s Lowdon Track and Field Complex. Fortner trails rival Emily Pearson (3,407) of Colorado State by just 14 points with three events remaining on Thursday.

 

Fortner turned in her best performance of the day in the shot put, smashing her previous best in the event by nearly 1 1/2’ with a winning mark of 46-feet even (14.02m). She was nearly five feet ahead of the runner-up as she moved up to fourth on the UNM all-time list in the shot put.

 

The product of tiny Fort Sumner, N.M. opened the day with a career-best time of 14.37 in the 100-meter hurdles (fifth), then tied Pearson and CSU All-American Katie Lloyd in the high jump with mark of 5’ 5 1/4” (1.66m). Following the shot put, Fortner recorded a career-best time of 25.24 to finish fourth in the 200.

 

The seven-event competition concludes tomorrow afternoon with the long jump, javelin and 800 meters.

 

Fortner, who has never finished higher than fourth in two previous MWC heptathlon competitions, is looking to become the first Lobo since 1989 to win the conference heptathlon title. She entered the meet ranked second in the MWC and 16th in the country in the heptathlon with a career-best score of 5,343 recorded at the Texas Relay in early April. 

 

Day One Heptathlon Results:

1.  Emily Pearson (CSU) – 3,407; 2. Sandy Fortner (UNM) – 3,393; 3. Katie Lloyd (CSU) – 3,219; 4. Kristin Olafsdottir (SDSU) – 3,188; 5. Chelsi Petersen (BYU) – 3,039; 6. Meaghan Peoples (TCU) – 2,969; 7. Shana Watson (SDSU) – 2,949; 8. Kristen Kugler (CSU) – 2,820; 9. Danielle McCarty (AF) – 2,619; DNF - Mindy Robins (BYU)

 

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