Business-Like Jensen Posts Top 2 Score In Heptathlon
DES MOINES, Iowa (4/25/13)—In honor of Microsoft founder Bill Gates' appearance at Concordia on Saturday, senior Kaari Jensen was all business at the Drake Relays as she posted the second highest score in NCAA Division III for the season in the heptathlon.
Jensen, wanting to post a national qualifying score before the MIAC Championship Meet, put up a total of 4,760 points which was just 69 points shy of her own school record which she set at last year's conference meet at Concordia. Jensen's total is 55 points away from the top mark held by Beth Stam from George Fox.
Jensen finished 10th at the Drake Relays competition and was the only Division III athlete to finish in the top 17. Her top scoring event was the 200-meter dash where she ran a 26.29 and scored 772 points. Jensen scored at least 700 points in four of the seven events.
Perhaps the most dramatic event of the meet came in the very first race where Jensen hit the final hurdle in the 100-meter hurdles but recovered to post her season-best time of 15.76. Her final time netted her 744 points.
Jensen's top place among the seven events came in the high jump where she tied for seventh place among the 17 competitors. She cleared 5-03.00 and scored 736 points. Her final height is a career best. Jensen went on to try at 5-04.25 and cleared the bar but just nicked it on her way down.
Jensen's other 700-point plus event was the final event of the competition. She ran a 2:29.01 and collected 705 points.
Jensen and the rest of the Cobbers will compete at the Al Cassel Relays at Jamestown College on Saturday, Apr. 27.
Drake Relays Final Heptathlon Scores
1. Lindsay Lettow - Unattached - 5470
2. Mary Nall - Mississippi - 5324
3. Paige Knodle - Northern Iowa - 5312
4. Fabia McDonald - Mississippi - 5300
5. Jessica Flax - Unattached - 5219
6. Briana Isom Brummer - Drake - 5087
7. Lisa Egarter - Southern Methodist - 5064
8. Jasmine Ellis - Central Arkansas - 4831
9. Jess Smith - Unattached - 4767
10. Kaari Jensen - Concordia-Moorhead - 4760
11. Briana Vander Woude - Dordt - 4702
12. Megan Stringer - Illinois College - 4655
13. Kelly Steffen - Indiana St - 4574
14. Rachael Johnson - Indiana St - 4491
15. Taylor Twedt - Unattached - 4446
16. Megan Snow - Central Arkansas - 4393
17. Chantae McMillan - 3735