The Mike Maynard Wildcat Combined Events wrapped up yesterday at Drachman Stadium, with a pair of Wildcats competing in the final day of the heptathlon.
Junior Amanda Underwood and freshman Lexie Viggiano participated for the UA. Fellow heptathlete Jessica Corkill was unable to compete because of personal reasons.
The field was composed of 15 men and 13 women from Arizona State, Kansas State, Oregon and South Dakota, as well as several unattached athletes.
"It is a very elite meet. The competition is very difficult," Underwood said. "But it's good because we need that push. It's kind of a wake-up call for us to be focused."
Underwood said she was glad to see Viggiano get into the swing of things.
"I'm trying to help them learn that it's not about one event. (Being a heptathlete) is a totally different mindset, and it takes a certain kind of person to do that," Underwood explained.
Overall, Austra Skujyte of Team Nike finished first in the women's heptathlon with 6,345 points, breaking a 20-year-old record at Drachman Stadium. Arizona's Underwood came in fifth with 4,443 points, and Viggiano ranked 10th with 3,026.
In the men's decathlon, Bevan Hart of Army was first with 7,798 points. Andy Geisler of Napa and Oregon's Andy Hart finished second and third, respectively.
Yesterday's competition began with the long jump, which Skujyte won with a mark of 20 feet, 9 inches. Viggiano finished seventh with a leap of 17 feet, 2 inches, while Underwood ranked ninth at 16 feet, 9 inches.
In the javelin, Skujyte widened the gap between her and the rest of the field with a throw of 145 feet, 10 inches ÷ a mark more than 30 feet better than any other athlete. Underwood came in fifth with a toss of 98 feet, 3 inches, while Viggiano was 10th in the event.
The day concluded with the 800 meters. Skujyte continued to dominate, winning the event with a time of 2:19.42. In a repeat performance, Underwood again claimed fifth place with a time of 2:33.90, and Viggiano finished 10th at 2:53.26.
On Tuesday, the women battled it out in four heptathlon events ÷ the 100-meter high hurdles, the long jump, the shot put and the 200 meters.
Arizona State's Jackie Johnson claimed the victory in the hurdles with a time of 13.53 seconds. For the Wildcats, Underwood came in 10th, while Viggiano finished 13th.
Skujyte won the high jump at a height of 6 feet. Underwood tied for eighth place at 4 feet, 11 inches, but Viggiano was unable to clear the opening height.
Skujyte was victorious in the shot put as well with a throw of 52 feet, 2 inches. Underwood again came in eighth with a mark of 33 feet, 4 inches, with Viggiano ranking 12th.
ASU's Johnson claimed the title in the 200 meters, coming in first with a time of 24.75 seconds. Underwood, who clocked at 26.62 seconds, and Viggiano, at 27.28 seconds, finished sixth and ninth, respectively.
"For Lexi, this is her first multi-event ever, so she's learning," said UA head coach Fred Harvey. "Her courage is what I look at most, how she is handling the success of some events and the failure of others.
"Amanda started off really well with two personal bests: in the hurdles and then back with a personal best in the high jump. She had a real letdown in the shot but came back and salvaged a few points. She (had) a bittersweet first day. That's what you look for ÷ a person who can not necessarily be great in all their events but can do all the events and do them successfully."
Arizona was not represented in the men's decathlon.
Underwood and Viggiano joined the rest of the Arizona teams in hosting Saturday's Jim Click Shootout at Drachman Stadium.