Annie Kunz scores career best 5,904 to win heptathlon, qualifies for Olympic Trials

Wednesday, April 13

Azusa, Calif.

All Day

Texas A&M

Mt. SAC Multis/California Invitational

Apr 14, 2016 | Track and Field

AZUSA, California – Texas A&M senior Annie Kunz produced a career best of 5,904 points to win the California Invitational heptathlon and surpassed the qualifying standard for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the process.

"It was really awesome environment, since there was a big variety of girls from different schools and professionals competing," noted Kunz, who bettered a field of 51 entrants. "There was a high caliber of heptathletes competing and that helped push me to the PRs I had. We had perfect conditions both days."

In challenging the Aggie school record of 6,022 set last season by Jena Hemann, Kunz improved upon her previous best score of 5,442 points set in 2013. Now Kunz is the No. 2 performer with the No. 4 performance on the A&M all-time list. For the 2016 season Kunz is currently seventh among collegians.

Previously ranked No. 7 on the Aggie all-time list with her 5,442 score, Kunz moved past Daphne Fitzpatrick (5,811 – 2011), Kalleen Madden (5,642 – 1993), Desi Hudson (5,543 – 2001), and Kendra Reimer (5,539 – 2001) among scores that were in the top 10 performances.

"Coming off the indoor season I was beat up, especially with my hamstring," explained Kunz. "Staying healthy is one of the hardest things to do as a heptathlete. Now I have a full month before SEC, so I'm thankful I came out of this competition healthy. Now my aim is to get a big score at SEC and score for the team."

After reaching a total of 3,654 points on the first day, Kunz had a cautious start on day two after registering two fouls in the long jump. She ended up reaching a distance of 19-2 ½ (5.85) for 804 points in the long jump, which left her trailing first day leader Nia Ali of Nike by just 10 points, 4,468 to 4,458.

In the javelin a throw of 111-6 (33.99) for Kunz added 552 points to her score while Ali picked up 623 points with a 123-7 toss. Ali's lead improved to 81 points at that stage, 5,091 to 5,010.

"Going into the second day I was excited for long jump, but scratched on my first two attempts and then had a safety jump," stated Kunz. "My first jump would have been around 20-4. So, I know I have more in me.

"Javelin has always been my struggle, but I'm improving. If I can improve in that event during the SEC meet then I think I can break 6,000 points."

A career best time of 2:14.90 in the 800m had Kunz winning the final event over a 2:14.93 from Maddi Buttinger of Alits, while Ali finished in 2:23.32 to score 779. Kunz added 894 points to reach her final tally of 5,904 for the victory.

"The time I ran in the 800 was the most exciting for me," said Kunz, who ran 2:20.78 indoors this season and had a previous outdoor best of 2:24.00. "Since I was upset with my long jump and javelin, it motivated me to run harder in 800. I had a goal of reaching the Olympic Trials standard of 5900, so I knew I had to run 2:15."

Ali finished third overall with a career best score of 5,870 while Chari Hawkins of Santa Barbara Track Club moved into second place with 5,878 points. The rest of the top five included Buttinger (5,586) and Colorado's Abrianna Torres (5,528).

The second day of the decathlon for Lindon Victor opened with a career best of 15.00 seconds in the 110m hurdles for 850 points. However, three fouls in the discus followed in the next event and resulted in no points. Victor had led the field with 4,092 points after the first day, but did not finish following the discus.