National runner-up sets personal record to become the 14th all-time U.S. Heptathlete with 6,307 points. Event Website
SACRAMENTO, Calif - On the heels of a record day 1 for Santa Barbara Track Club's (SBTC) Barbara Nwaba, she set two personal bests on day 2, racking up 6,307 points, a personal record Nwaba, 25, finished in second place behind former Cal Poly SLO star and 2012 Olympian Sharon Day (6,470 points), while vaulting herself to the 14th best mark all-time in the United States.
Nwaba Climbs the U.S. All-Time Heptathlon List
Nwaba came to play on a hot, dry afternoon at Sacramento State University's Hornet Stadium. She led off with a personal record in the Long Jump (19 ft 9in) and followed it up with another personal record in the Javelin (143ft 6in).
In the final event of the day at 2:30pm, in the now blazing sun, Nwaba needed to run close to her personal best at 800m to crack the Top 15 all-time U.S. heptathlete list. She ran a strong race finishing in 2:13.76, claiming the 14th all-time mark.
"To have only cracked 6,000 points for the first time earlier this year and now find myself amongst the all-time greats in the U.S. is a really exciting," stated Nwaba, a 2012 UC-Santa Barbara alum. "It was hard missing an opportunity last year to qualify for the World Championships being out for injury. This was the breakthrough I have been working toward and it's a real blessing."
"Barbara is one of the most disciplined athletes I have ever had the pleasure of coaching and to come out and perform as well as she did in a championship event is thrilling," commented SBTC Head Coach Josh Priester.
Fellow SBTC athlete Lindsay Schwartz completed the Heptathlon in ninth place with 5,816 points. For Schwartz this was a strong showing considering that she missed eight weeks due to an achilles injury in early April at the Sam Adams Combined Events Invitational, an event she won.
Ryan Martin in 800m Final
Ryan Martin, who finished 5th in yesterday's 800m semi-final, successfully petitioned USA Track & Field to be granted a spot in tomorrow's final. Nick Hartle, a UCLA sophomore, was disqualified for un-sportsman like conduct at the finish line.
About the Santa Barbara Track Club The Santa Barbara Track Club aims to create a progressive and cohesive Track & Field experience for members of our community from youth to masters as well as the development of Olympians and Olympic hopefuls alike. The professional athletes are composed of combined events athletes and middle distance athletes who also work within the community by serving as coaches and mentors to youth. The coaching and personal training efforts of the athletes help to fund the continued growth of Santa Barbara as an international training hub as well as to promote cultural exchange and shared education.