Cougar freshman takes second in Pac-12 champs

A Washington State freshman took second in the heptathlon Sunday at Mooberry Track.

Alissa Brooks-Johnson came into the second day of the Pac-12 Track & Field Multi Events Championships in fifth place in the women’s heptathlon.

The heptathlon consists of seven events, which include throws, jumps and races.

Brooks-Johnson’s performance in the last two events, the javelin throw and the 800-meter run, helped her earn enough points to rise above the majority of her competitors.

She won in the javelin with a personal-record throw of 137 feet, 3 inches.

She also beat her previous record in the 800-meter race after passing Alexis Walker of UCLA right before the finish line.

She placed second in that event with a time of two minutes, 15.05 seconds—four seconds ahead of her previous record.

“After I PR’ed in my javelin, I knew I had a really good chance of getting second place, so I went all out for that 800,” she said.

Head coach Rick Sloan was also enthusiastic about the team’s performance.

“That was a tremendous competitive effort,” Sloan said of Brooks-Johnson’s performance on the second day of the competition.

Brooks-Johnson’s total score of 5,325 points in the heptathlon bested her previous PR of 4,987 points.

Despite her success, Brooks-Johnson expressed higher expectations for the future.

“Next season I’m hoping I have more PR’s,” she said. “I feel like if I’m more prepared and I PR in most of my events, I’ll do a lot better.”

USC freshman Amalie Iuel won the heptathlon with 5,378 points.

Brooks-Johnson said she looks forward to competing against Iuel in the years to come.

Brooks-Johnson’s performance helped the women’s team significantly, contributing eight points amid preparations for the second weekend of the Pac-12 Championships.

Athletes who finish first through eighth place score points for their team. WSU senior Spencer Wordell missed scoring team points with a finish of ninth overall in the decathlon.

Wordell strained his left hip flexor the first day but continued to compete on the second. Despite the injury, Wordell placed third in the javelin with a throw of 181 feet, 8 inches.

The other WSU male competitor, Dino Dodig, did not compete on the second day because of an injury. The freshman was in sixth place overall after the first day with 3,639 points.

On Saturday, he placed fourth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 50.32 seconds.

Dakotah Keys, a junior from Oregon, won the decathlon with 7,801 points.

The Pac-12 Track & Field Championships will continue Saturday and Sunday at Mooberry Track.