Schepp Hits Qualifier On The River

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (5/18/17)--- Jackson Schepp had all his chips pushed into the center of the table as he had one last chance to qualify for nationals in the decathlon. Schepp responded by hitting a winning hand on the river and posted a point total that should qualify for the NCAA National Meet.

Schepp, who missed the MIAC decathlon due to a lower body injury, needed to put up a career-best total in the 10 events to jump into the Top 20 in the nation which would earn him a spot in the Division III Meet.

Schepp came through in the clutch by scoring the second highest decathlon score in school history which pushed him into the Top 10 in the nation. He finished the North Central multi-event in Naperville, Ill. with 6,455 points which is a personal best by over 500 points and is the eighth best score in Division III.

Schepp finished second in the event while senior teammate Joe Hendrickson recorded a total of 6,283 points which was the third best score in the event and also a career best for Hendrickson. Hendrickson won the MIAC decathlon with a total of 6,197 points. Hedrickson's total at the North Central meet is No.25 in the nation this year which is just outside the Top 20 needed to qualify for nationals.

Schepp made his Top 10 national bid on the first day where he scored at least 700 points in four of the five events. He then backed that up with a solid second day to put up the second highest total in program history.

Schepp's highest point total came in his best event – the high jump. Schepp, who won the MIAC high jump, cleared 6-07 on Wednesday to score 813 points. He also scored over 700 points on Day 1 in the 100-meter dash, long jump and 400 meters. Schepp's second day top scores came in the first event of the day and the last event of the decathlon. He scored 691 points by running a 16.38 in the 110-meter hurdles. Schepp then gutted out the 1500 meters by running a 4:46.14 which earned him 662 points and pushed him into national territory.

Hendrickson's best event was the final in the 1500 meters. He won the event among the 10 competitors by crossing the line in a time of 4:34.71 and scoring 714 points. Hendrickson also scored over 700 points in the two other running events. He raced to a 11.71 in the 100 meters and scored 709 points and had a total of 705 points in the 110-meter hurdles with a mark of 16.25.

Hendrickson's career-best total of 6,283 points is the sixth highest score in school history.

Schepp will now have to wait until Monday, May 22 to learn if he has officially qualified for the NCAA National Outdoor Meet which would be a first in his career.      

Cobber Top 10 Decathlon Totals
1. 1. 6,747 - Adam Strainer – 2000
2. 6,455 - Jackson Schepp – 2017
3. 6,397 - Paul Westmark - 2009  
4. 6,368 - Joe Schmidgall - 2002 
5. 6,290 - Emry McAlear - 1993 
6. 6,283 - Joe Hendrickson - 2017 
7. 6,190 - Paul Shol - 2009      
8. 6,162 - Ryan Williams 1997    
9. 6,128 - Caleb Giesen - 2011   
10. 6,111 - Bobby Clark - 2003