Brooks-Johnson claims Pac-12 heptathlon title

Redshirt senior won third conference heptathlon title of career

ABBY LINNENKOHL | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE

Redshirt senior hurdler/multi-event performer Alissa Brooks-Johnson wins the women’s 4×100 meter relay as the anchor for the WSU team, adding points toward the women’s win during the WSU-UW Dual on April 28 at Mooberry Field.

DYLAN GREENE, Evergreen deputy sports editor

Redshirt senior Alissa-Brooks Johnson won the Pac-12 women’s heptathlon title Sunday at Cobb Track and Angell Field in Stanford, California.

Brooks-Johnson earned the title by tallying a lifetime best 5,977 points, the second most in WSU history and third best in Division I this season. This marks the third time in her career that Brooks-Johnson has claimed the title, joining former Cougar Ellannee Richardson.

“I’ve been waiting a while for this type of … competition, so I’m glad it came together at conference,” Brooks-Johnson said in a WSU news release. ” I still have lots of points left on the track and I’m excited to see what I can do at nationals.”

Brooks-Johnson had personal records in five of the seven events over the weekend including the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, 200-meter and long jump.

Brooks-Johnson trailed first place University of California, Los Angeles senior Kendall Gustafson by 40 points heading into the final event, the 800-meter. But a 2:14.82 performance in the 880-meter pushed Brooks-Johnson past Gustafson to claim her second consecutive title.

“On top of all of the impressive PRs throughout the meet, I was most impressed by her toughness in the 800-meter,” Wayne Phipps, director of cross country/track and field, said. “Knowing she needed to beat the leader by three seconds, she went straight to the front and led from start to finish.”

WSU track and field will continue the Pac-12 Championships on Saturday in Stanford to compete in the individual and relay events.