Second Day Surge by Vanderbilt’s Josie Hahn Results in Runnerup SEC Heptathlon Finish 5/16/03

Knoxville, Tenn. - Vanderbilt sophomore Josie Hahn used a career best in the long jump and a gut-check performance in the 800 meters to claim second place in the heptathlon Friday at the Southeastern Conference Track & Field Championships.

Hahn finished the two-day event with 5,327 points, a new personal record for the native of Clinton, Tenn., and the second best performance ever by a Vanderbilt athlete. Only Julie Walk’s 5,399-point total, achieved in a second place at the 1999 SEC Championships, betters Hahn’s performance.

Hahn’s runnerup performance gave the Commodores eight team points and got Head Coach Lori Shepard’s squad off to a solid start at the conference championships, which continue through Sunday at the University of Tennessee.

Hahn began the second day of heptathlon competition in third place, knowing that a big performance in the long jump - her least impressive event - was critical to her hopes of overtaking Antoinette Wilks of South Carolina or leader Hyleas Fountain of Georgia.

Competing in front of relatives and friends from her hometown of Clinton, Tenn., Hahn did exactly what the situation demanded. She sailed 18’7.25” in the long jump. The leap extended her personal record in the event by nearly eight inches.

Hahn, feeling confident after the long jump, dominated the final two heptathlon events, winning the javelin with a toss of 126’7” and the 800-meter run. Her 2:24.88 effort in the 800 beat the closest runner by four seconds, and allowed Hahn to comfortably hold off Wilks. Fountain, a former national junior college champion, won the event with 5,626 points.

Hahn’s 5,327-point total surpasses her previous best in the heptathlon by 68 points. She posted the former mark during a third place finish at the 2002 U.S. Junior Nationals.

Hahn was one of four Commodores competing Friday. The three others, seniors Cicely Campbell and Joy Parker in the 800 meters and junior Vensherrie Campbell in the hammer throw, did not advance to the finals. Cicely Campbell ran 2:11.11, the 10th fastest time. The top nine finishers advanced to the finals.

On Saturday, Hahn and Amanda Mullins-Hall are the top contenders among seven Commodores scheduled to compete. Hahn will go in her specialty, the high jump, where she holds the Vanderbilt record of 5’9.25”. Mullins-Hall, a talented freshman from Cincinnati, will attempt to qualify in the ultra-tough 100-meter hurdles. Mullins-Hall, who recently set a team record of 13.51, likely needs another personal best Saturday to move into the finals on Sunday.

Also competing Saturday are senior Colleen Byrne and freshman Caitlin Shannon in the 1,500 meters, Vensherrie Campbell in the discus, and 400-meter participants Latisha Bryant and Vanessa Lagios.

Hahn, sophomore pole vaulter Paige Roberts, freshman distance runner Erika Schneble and the Commodore 4x400 relay squad are entered Sunday.