WSU's Harper fourth after day 1 of California Invitational heptathlon...

AZUSA, California—Washington State’s Liz Harper (left/photo by Paul Merca) currently stands in fourth place after day one of the California Invitational heptathlon competition hosted by Azusa Pacific University.

Harper, an accomplished 400 meter hurdler for the Cougs, made her heptathlon debut Wednesday by  running 14.02 in the 100 hurdles (976 points), clearing 5-10 (1.78m, 953 points), throwing the shot 32-10.5 (10.34m, 552 points), and running the 200 in 24.84 (902 points) to accumulate a first day score of 3383 points.

Washington’s CJ Smith stands 21st in the field with a first day score of 2934 points, while Washington State’s Lindsey Schauble is 33rd with 2783 points, Eastern Washington’s Jozie Kimes is 42nd with 2547 points, and Ericka Budinich is 45th at 2382 points.

Nia Ali, the two-time world indoor champion at the 60 hurdles, holds the lead at the break with 3712 points.

In the concurrent Mt. SAC Relays heptathlon competition also contested at Azusa, WSU assistant coach Angela Whyte is fifth at the break with a score of 3543 points.

Whyte ran 13.16 (1100 points) in the 100 hurdles, high jumped 5-5 (1.65m, 795 points), threw the shot 41-6 (12.65m, 704 points), and ran the 200 in 24.39 (944 points).

Defending Pac-12 champion Alissa Brooks-Johnson of WSU, is dealing with issues in her back and only competed in two events—the high jump, where she cleared 5-6 (1.68m. 830 points) and threw the shot 33-11.25 (10.34m, 666 points).

Akela Jones of Kansas State leads at the break with 4063 points.

In the California Invitational decathlon, Washington’s Cole Jensen stands sixth with a five-event total of 3670 points, while teammate Josh Gordon is eighth with 3670 points.

Victor Lindon of Texas A&M leads at the halfway mark with a first day score of 4092 points.

The Mt. SAC Relays and California Invitational multi-event competition continues Thursday at Azusa Pacific.


Thursday, all nine schools, along with a handful of Washington post-collegians and pros will be in action at either the Bryan Clay Invitational at Azusa Pacific, the Pacific Coast Invitational, hosted by Long Beach State, or the Mt. SAC Relays, which are being contested this year at Cerritos College in Norwalk, due to a remodeling project at Hilmer Lodge Stadium at Mt. SAC in Walnut. The stadium is being remodeled with the intent to bid for the 2020 US Olympic Trials.

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