March 31, 2012
TUCSON, Ariz.: March 30, 2012 - Through two days of competition and temperatures in the upper 80s, senior Anya Uzoh (Laurel, Md.), sophomore Brittney Howell (Wyncote, Pa.) and freshman Rachel Chernaskey (Gilbertsville, Pa.), posted solid outings during the Jim Click Combined Events competition at the University of Arizona. Uzoh was the top place winner for the Nittany Lions, taking fifth overall in the men's decathlon with a near personal-best score of 6987. The senior was also the top collegiate finisher in the field.
On the women's side, Howell improved her career-best heptathlon total by over 300 points, scoring 4939 to place 15th in a stack field. Chernaskey placed 23rd overall with a personal-record total of 4221.
Uzoh spent much of the competition in the upper echelon of the elite field, including third-place efforts in both the 400-meters and long jump on Thursday. The senior notched near-PRs in both events, going 49.91 in the 400, and 22-11.75 (7.00) in the long jump. He also turned in a lifetime-outdoor best 39-11.50 (12.18) in the shot put along the way.
On the day two, Uzoh enjoyed a personal-best toss in the javelin at 157-10 (48.10) and matched an outdoor-best clearance of 14-1.25 (4.30) in the pole vault.
Damien Warner of London-Western Track Club won the men's multi with a total score of 7977.
Howell also turned in a series of career bests on the opening day of competition, clocking 14.19 in the 100-meter hurdles - a lifetime best by nearly half a second. Howell followed up with a PR of 36-2 (11.02) in the shot put, and a lifetime-low 25.02 in the 200-meters on Thursday, and concluded competition with an outdoor 800-meter best of 2:31.24.
The rest of the Jim Click competition gets underway on Saturday morning, beginning with the women's hammer throw at 9:30 a.m., PDT.
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