McMullen Takes Over National Lead In Pentathlon

COLORADO SPRINGS – Colorado track and field sophomore Avery McMullen recorded the top women's pentathlon mark in the nation this season thus far here Friday at the UCCS Colorado Running Company Pre-Holiday Invite.
 
McMullen won four of the five events to take the win with 4,041 points, jumping her one spot up the CU top-10 list and pulling within 30 points of the school record held by Annette Tannander. She won the 60 hurdles in 8.58, just three-hundredths of a second from her personal best she hit last week. In the high jump, McMullen bettered her previous best by a centimeter at 1.76 meters (5-9.25) to move herself into a tie for eighth in CU history in the event. She destroyed her previous best in the indoor shot put with a toss of 11.88 meters (38-11.75) which was more than a meter improvement from her previous best in 2020. McMullen followed that up with her second-ever six-meter jump in the indoor long jump, hitting exactly the 6.00 meter mark (19-8.25). She closed the event running 2:36.83 in the 800.
 
Last year a 4,000-point mark would've been good enough to go to nationals. In the past five years it has taken on average 4060 points with three of those years between 4071 and 4082. The previous national-leading mark was held by Allison Gerads of Minnesota at 4,037 points.
 
Colorado also had Jada Green score 3,500 points for fourth and Elise Gillett finish eighth in 3,171 points.
 
Moving to the men's field events, Nick Bianco placed second in the pole vault and was the top collegiate athlete at 4.98 meters (16-4). His mark is good for fifth in school history and was more than a foot higher than his previous indoor best. His mark is the highest in CU history since 1995.
 
In the men's long jump, Aidan Christiansen placed 10th with a jump of 6.73 meters (22-1) while Jackson Meyer placed 17th in 6.43 meters (21-1.25)
 
John Swabik competed in the first day of the men's heptathlon, finishing the day out in fourth with 2,591 points.
 
The throwers were scheduled to compete at the Wyoming Power Meet but did not compete today due to weather.
 
RESULTS:
UCCS:
Women's Heptathlon: 1. Avery McMullen (COLO) 4041; 4. Jada Green (COLO) 3500; 8. Elise Gillett (COLO) 3171
 
Men's Pole Vault: 1. Andrew Barlow (ATB) 5.08m (16-8); 2. Nick Bianco (COLO) 4.98m (16-4)
Men's Long Jump: 1. Jermel Jones II (APU) 7.65m (25-1.25); 10. Aidan Christiansen (COLO) 6.73m (22-1); 17. Jackson Meyer (COLO) 6.43m (21-1.25)