Dreher Leads Buffs in Pentathlon

Friday, January 21

BOULDER

2 p.m.

Colorado

POTTS INDOOR INVITATIONAL

Photo by: CUBuffs.com

January 21, 2011 | Track and Field

By: Linda Sprouse, Assistant SID

BOULDER - University of Colorado junior Katie Dreher led the Buffs with a third-place finish in the women's pentathlon at the Potts Indoor Invitational on Friday at Balch Fieldhouse.

Dreher recorded a personal record of 3,409 points over the course of the five-event competition. She placed eighth in the 60-meter hurdles (9.48 seconds) and was third in the high jump with a PR of 5 feet, 5.75 inches. Dreher also took 10^th in the shot put (27-02.75) and was second in the long jump (16-09.25) and the 800 (2:23.93). Janay DeLoach, who was competing unattached, won the pentathlon with 4,116 points.

"Katie is fantastic," assistant coach Lindsey Malone said. "She did such an exceptional job at the high jump specifically today. Everyone had their individual events where they had an exceptional PR and Katie's was high jump today. This was just the beginning of what she is going to be able to do this year."

Sophomore Holly Odneal earned her best ever finish in a pentathlon by placing fourth overall with 3,380 points, just 29 from Dreher. She earned a PR in the shot put after recording a toss of 38-00.75. Odneal was third in the 60 hurdles (9.19) and tied for fourth in the high jump after reaching a height of 5-03.25.

Freshman Genny Mayden made her CU debut and placed sixth overall with 3,167 points.

"I'm very proud of Genny," Malone said. "She is joining a very talented group, so that can be very intimidating your freshman year where you have had people set the standard ahead of you and she joined the group seamlessly. The goal is to get 3,200 or higher in your first season here and she is just 40 points under that in her first pentathlon.

"The women did phenomenal today. They are just a tremendous group to get to work with. Technically I was very excited with what was going on. We've been working really hard at being technically efficient and being able to transfer that into a competitive setting."

On the men's side, senior Alex Von Hagen is currently in first-place in the men's heptathlon with 2,807 points. He has a 75 point lead over Colorado State's Josh McMillin (2,732). Von Hagen recorded PRs in the 60-meter dash (7.34) and the shot put (37-08.50). He also jumped 21-09 in the long jump, first place in the event, and reached a height of 6-04 in the high jump to tie for third.

Senior Adam Salzmann isn't much further behind in third-place with 2,715 points. Salzmann had personal records in the 60 (7.19) and the shot put (38-01.25).

"Alex is just a true competitor," Malone said. "He rises to the occasion when there is something on the line. He and Adam are my eldest and were my first two recruits here so it is very pleasing seeing them have so much success."

Junior Eddie Taylor and sophomore Brock Emory are also competing in the heptathlon for CU. Taylor is seventh (2,643) and Emory is ninth (2,446). Taylor had the best throw in the shot put, recording a PR of 40-02. It was the second best throw ever by a CU combined events athlete and he became just the second Buff to throw over 40 feet. Emory won the high jump section after clearing 6-06.25 which was another Buffalo PR and the second best jump in CU combined events history.

In total, a CU man won three of the four events in the first day of the heptathlon.

"I'm very proud of the group for who they are and what they are representing," Malone went on to say. "They do a great job showing what CU is about and what we are capable of doing in the multi events here at CU."

The meet will resume on Saturday, January 22, with the men's weight throw and the women's shot put at 10 a.m. There have been some revisions to the original schedule due to the amount of entries. That schedule is listed below the results.

2011 POTTS INDOOR INVITE

Balch Fieldhouse (Boulder, Colo.) - CU Athletes Only

Women's Pentathlon

Points: (1. Janay DeLoach, UNA, 4,116) 3. Katie Dreher, 3,409; 4. Holly Odneal, 3,380, 6. Genny Mayden, 3,167.

60-Meter Hurdles: (1. Janay DeLoach, UNA, 8.60) 3. Holly Odneal, 9.19; 4. Genny Mayden. 9.28; 8. Katie Dreher, 9.48.

High Jump: (1. Janay DeLoach, UNA, 5-08) 3. Katie Dreher, 5-05.75; t4. Holly Odneal, 5-03.25; 6. Genny Mayden, 5-02.50.

Shot Put: (1. Janay DeLoach, UNA, 38-10.50) 2. Holly Odneal, 38-00.75; 6. Genny Mayden, 32-02.25; 10. Katie Dreher, 27-02.75.

Long Jump: (1. Janay De Loach, UNA, 20-10.75) 2. Katie Dreher, 16-09.25; 3. Genny Mayden, 16-02.50; 6. Holly Odneal, 15-07.75.

800-Meters: (1. Brianne Beemer, UNA, 2:18.94) 2. Katie Dreher, 2:23.93; 5. Holly Odneal, 2:35.24; 11. Genny Mayden, 2:43.75.

Men's Heptathlon

Points: 1. Alex Von Hagen, 2,807; 3. Adam Salzmann, 2,715; 7. Eddie Taylor, 2,643; 9. Brock Emory, 2,446.

60-Meters: (1. Robert Wasinger, CSU, 7.18) 3. Adam Salzmann, 7.19; 7. Eddie Taylor, 7.32; 9. Alex Von Hagen, 7.34; 12. Brock Emory, 7.54.