Finishes First in 800-Meter Run to Move into Lead
SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University's Brandi Miller (Jr., Grants Pass, OR/North Valley HS) took first place in the heptathlon at the West Coast Invitational with a score of 4,406 as the second day of the multi-event competition ended on Thursday, May 12 at the Charles Bowles Track.
Miller improved her NCAA Division III provisional qualifying score by 304 points. Her first provisional score of 4,102 was recorded at the NWC Multi-Event Championships on April 11-12. The winning score at the West Coast Invitational moved her into third on WU's Top 10 list, trailing only Brooke Smith '08 (4,536) and Gayle (Roth) Cutea '84 (4,408).
Field events in the West Coast Invitational were set to begin at 1 p.m. (PDT) on Thursday. Running events will be held on Saturday, May 14, starting at 7 p.m.
In the final heptathlon standings, Miller was followed by Bridget Johnson, who competed unattached and scored 4,366 points. Nicole Smith of Pacific University was third with 3,337 points. Samantha Nhim (Jr., Tigard, OR/Southridge HS) of Willamette finished fourth with 3,030 points. Nhim was competing in her first heptathlon for the Bearcats.
Miller surged into the overall lead by winning the final event of the heptathlon, the 800-meter run, in 2:26.43. Johnson held first place in the heptathlon until the 800, but completed the race 26 seconds behind Miller in 2:52.81. Miller scored 738 points in the event, while Johnson tallied only 435 points.
During the seven events of the heptathlon, Miller claimed two victories (200-meter dash, 800-meter run), placed second four times (100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump) and was third once (javelin throw). She set personal records in six events.
In the first two events of the second day, Miller registered a distance of 16' 8.50" in the long jump and threw the javelin 97' 5". Johnson won both events, producing a leap of 17' 6.75" in the long jump and earning a distance of 118' 6" in the javelin.
Miller's increased score moved her up significantly on the list of NCAA Division III top scores in the heptathlon this season. Pending other mid-week results, she has advanced from 31st into 12th.Brandi Miller won the heptathlon and improved her NCAA provisional qualifying score to 4,406 points.
