Colorado University Athletics
Torres Wins Pentathlon At AFA Invite
January 22, 2015 | Track and Field
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY — University of Colorado junior Abrianna Torres had a career day as she won the Air Force Invitational pentathlon on Thursday at Cadet Field House with a score of 3,882 points.
“Coach [Lindsey Malone] and I have been working up to this kind of performance and it's exciting to see it all come together now,” Torres said.
The point total is also the fourth best in the NCAA Division I this season and puts her third on CU's all-time performers list.
Torres had an outstanding day, recording three personal records. She started the day by destroying her 60-meter hurdles PR (9.02) when she clocked in at 8.92 seconds. The time was the third best overall and was second in the first heat.
“I've been preparing my mind and today when I got to the start line, it was game on,” Torres said. “All of us multi's really helped each other out today. Mariah (Slack) was next to me in the hurdles to start the day and that really relaxed me and made me think it was just like practice.”
The next event of the day was the high jump where Torres again PR'd as she cleared 5-4.50 to tie for third. (Her previous best had been 5-4.25.) The shot put has been one of her best events as she owns the CU pentathlon shot put record (42-9.50) and she reset that mark with a huge throw of 43-11.75 for another PR to win the individual event.
Although she didn't PR in the final two events of the day, Torres came close and set season bests in both. She recorded a jump of 19-1.50 in the long jump for second overall and was 10th in the 800, clocking in at 2:35.99.
“We had a fantastic day in the pentathlon at the Air Force Academy today,” Malone said. “Abrianna did almost spot-on what my aspirations were for her to accomplish today. The largest portion of that was being very consistent with her marks, both in meets and in practice. I'm excited because she achieved a lot of great marks today, but I also know she has a lot left in the tank.”
Slack, a sophomore, placed 10th overall with a total of 3,160 points and freshman Michaela Wenning was 11th with a score of 3,149.
“As a team, I think we competed incredibly strong today,” Malone stated. “We had an unfortunate incident where a couple of girls (Michaela Wenning and Mariah Slack) got caught in some traffic in the 800 and were taken out in the first lap. They were able to get up and finish and I think that shows how strong and brave they are.”
On the men's side, CU had freshman Andrew Ghizzone competing in the heptathlon. After the first four events, he is 13th with 2,396 points. Utah Valley's Michael McPherson is currently in the lead with 3,026 points.
Ghizzone started his day by placing 14th in the 60-meters (7.57) and tied for eighth in the long jump (20-4.25). He placed 13th in the shot put (31-3.25) and finished the day tied for 10th in the high jump (5-10.50).
“Andrew still has day two to get through,” Malone said. “He competed today with the wisdom of an upper classman and his second day is his high tallying day. Tomorrow will be a fun day for him.”
The second day of the Air Force Invite is Friday. The heptathlon will conclude, while several field events and track events will be contested. The invite runs through Saturday, Jan. 24.
“I look forward to welcoming the rest of the team down here tomorrow, but I'm excited we got it off to a great start,” said Malone.
2015 AIR FORCE INVITATIONAL
Cadet Field House (U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo.)
Pentathlon
1. Abrianna Torres, 3,882; 10. Mariah Slack, 3,160; 11. Michaela Wenning, 3,149
60-Meter Hurdles: (1. Nicole Laws, BYU, 8.55) 3. Torres, 8.92; 10. Wenning, 9.55; 13. Slack, 9.76; 16. Taila Howe, 10.29; 18. Claire Kazen, 10.72
High Jump: (1. Sabina Sandberg, Wyoming, 5-8) t3. Torres, 5-4.50; t3. Wenning, 5-4.50; t9. Slack, 5-2.25; 14. Kazen, 34-7.75
Shot Put: 1. Torres, 43-11.75; 3. Kazen, 34-7.75; 9. Wenning, 31-6.50; 14. Slack, 28-6.25
Long Jump: (1. Marsha Mark-Baird, unattached, 19-2) 2. Torres, 19-1.50; 9. Slack, 16-8; 16. Wenning, 14-8.75
800-Meters: (1. Scout Baldwin, BYU, 2:30.46) 5. Slack, 2:32.22; 7. Wenning, 2:34.50; 10. Torres, 2:35.99
Heptathlon (Day 1)
(1. Michael McPherson, Utah Valley, 3,026) 13. Andrew Ghizzone, 2,396
60-Meters: (1. Michael McPherson, UV, 6.95) 14. Ghizzone, 7.57
Long Jump: (1. Michael McPherson, UV, 23-7.75) t8. Ghizzone, 20-4.25
Shot Put: (1. Evan McDowell, AFA, 43-6) 13. Ghizzone, 31-3.25
High Jump: (1. Samuel Bilderbeck, Adams State, 6-4.25) t10. Ghizzone, 5-10.50
