University of Colorado Athletics
Buffs Finish Strong At Pac-12 Multi Championships
May 09, 2016 | Track and Field
SEATTLE – Abrianna Torres led the University of Colorado as she placed fourth in the heptathlon on Sunday at the 2016 Pac-12 Track and Field Combined Event Championships.
Torres earned a two-day score of 5,440 points and placed third in the first two events of the day with some great marks. She jumped 18-4.50 in the long jump and followed it up with a throw of 117-10 in the javelin. The final event was the 800-meter run, where Torres ended up ninth in 2:26.36.
“Today was a mix of emotions,” assistant coach Lindsey Malone said. “This was the last multi that Abrianna will do during the regular season. It's been a wonderful journey that I've been along with her in this event and getting to see her finish today was really special. I wish the weather had been a little better today, it was a little rough starting off especially in the long jump, but she pushed herself the whole day and was a true competitor.”
Torres, who just graduated from CU, has scored for the Buffs every year in the heptathlon at the championships. As a freshman she was third (5,357) and then took eighth her sophomore season (4,810). Last season as a junior, Torres was fifth with 5,455 points.
“We've appreciated her mentorship and leadership,” Malone said. “As a fifth year senior, she's had a chance to do many wonderful things for CU and I'm thankful for the opportunity that I've had to coach her. It's been wonderful to see our (current) athletes learn from her.”
Torres, along with her three teammates at the combined events championship, will be back next weekend to help pick up more points for the team score as the open events will be contested.
“Day two definitely didn't have the storybook ending I was hoping for,” Torres said. “It's hard when you have a great day one and then follow it up with a rocky day two, but that's just the way it works out sometimes. I'm not sure if I'm more physically or mentally exhausted but I am definitely excited about next week and my focus is on preparing as best I can for that now.”
Colorado also recorded another point in the heptathlon for the team score with an eighth place finish (4,794) by Maja Wichhart-Donzo. Wichhart-Donzo entered the day in eighth place, but dropped down to 10th after the first two events. She was 11th in the long jump after leaping 16-1 and then recorded a toss of 90-00 in the javelin. A solid 800 time of 2:23.01, a personal best, propelled her back into eighth and earned her a spot on the podium.
The men's team also picked up a couple of points with Isaiah Oliver placing seventh in the decathlon. Oliver recorded a PR of 6,952 points, bettering his previous 6,415 performance. That mark also puts him seventh on CU's all-time performers list.
The second day is traditionally a harder day for Oliver, but he did quite well in his second-ever collegiate decathlon. Oliver started the day racing a season-best 14.89 in the 110-meter hurdles, which was second in the field. He had PRs in the next two events, starting with the discus where he launched a throw of 113-7 (seventh overall). In the pole vault, Oliver cleared two feet higher than his previous best (10-8) with a mark of 12-9.50 (10th overall).
The javelin was the second to last event, and although Oliver didn't PR, he did quite well, throwing 124-5. He finished the day in the 1,500 with yet another PR, crossing the finish fourth in 4:30.63.
“Isaiah had a phenomenal day,” Malone said. “He was recording personal bests in almost every single event today and was truly taking in the whole experience. He has been able to take what he has learned in practice and put it into a competitive scenario and he was just thriving.
“He kept rolling today to place seventh in the Pac-12, which is a huge honor,” Malone continued. “Being able to do this five weeks after being able to focus on track and field training just shows what a great athlete and asset he is going to be for our program. I'm very thankful that the football coaches and staff, as well as coach Mark Wetmore [CU's head track and field coach], have been able to help him so that he can come out and pursue both of his passions in college, football and track and field. It's such a pleasure to work with him.”
Despite not placing on the podium, CU's Andrew Ghizzone had a very respectable day, finishing 10th with 6,724 points. He was eighth to start the day in the 110-hurdles (15.31) and 10th in the discus (104-0). The pole vault is his best event and there he placed second overall after reaching 15-1. Ghizzone was sixth in the javelin, recording a mark of 139-1, and finished his day second in the 1,500 in 4:27.64.
The Pac-12 Championships will continue next Saturday and Sunday, May 14-15, in Seattle. Colorado's women are currently third with six points and the men are sixth with two points.
“I'm thrilled that we are in third on the women's side and that we are sixth on the men's side,” Malone said. “This feels like a very good opportunity to help the team as we enter next weekend.”
PAC-12 COMBINED EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS
Husky Track (Seattle, Wash.)
Women's Team Scores
1. Southern California 14; 2. Arizona 11; 3. Colorado 6; 3. Washington State 6; 5. Washington 2.
Men's Team Scores
1. Oregon 14; 2. Arizona 10; 3. Washington State 5; 4. Washington 4; 4. UCLA 4; 6. Colorado 2.
Heptathlon
Final Scores: (1. Amalie Iuel, USC, 6,011) 4. Abrianna Torres, 5,440; 8. Maja Wichhart-Donzo, 4,794
Long Jump: (1. Iuel, USC, 19-4) 3. Torres, 18-4.50/5.60; 11. Wichhart-Donzo, 16-1/4.90
Javelin: (1. Alyssa Purifoye, UA, 138-6) 3. Torres, 117-10/35.93; 12. Wichhart-Donzo, 90-00/27.43
800-Meters: (1. Tuel, USC, 2:06.34) 7. Wichhart-Donzo, 2:23.01; 9. Torres, 2:26.36
Decathlon
Final Scores: (1. Pau Tonneson, UA, 7,942) 7. Oliver, 6,952; 10. Ghizzone, 6,724
110-Meter Hurdles: (1. Tonneson, UA, 14.84) 2. Oliver, 14.89; 8. Ghizzone, 15.31
Discus: (1. Tonneson, UA, 142-5) 7. Oliver, 113-7/34.63; 10. Ghizzone, 104-0/31.70
Pole Vault: (1. Pau Tonneson, UA, 17-00.75) 2. Ghizzone, 15-1/4.60; 10. Oliver, 12-9.50/3.90
Javelin: (1. Dino Dodig, WSU, 6-4.25) 6. Ghizzone, 139-1/42.39; 9. Oliver, 124-5/37.93
1,500-Meters: (1. Joe Delgado, UO, 4:17.49) 2. Ghizzone, 4:27.64; 4. Oliver, 4:30.63
