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Commodore Josie Hahn Finishes Sixth in NCAA Pentathlon 3/14/2004 Sets Two Team Records During National Competition FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Junior Josie Hahn became the first Commodore female to achieve the six-foot high jump barrier while finishing sixth in the pentathlon Saturday at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Hahn, a native of Clinton, Tenn., set team records in the high jump and pentathlon at the NCAA meet. She also became the first Commodore to earn points at the NCAA Indoor Championships since 1998. Sparked by the record high jump leap, Hahn accumulated 4,064 points in the pentathlon to smash her former team record of 3,917 points set just two weeks ago at the Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships. Hahn was the only Commodore participant at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Because of Hahn’s three team points, Vanderbilt tied for 38th in the team competition. LSU edged Florida for the team title, with five of the top 10 schools coming from the powerful SEC. The pentathlon result was Hahn’s second straight All-American campaign. Last summer, she earned fourth in the heptathlon at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Hahn started slowly against the nation’s top collegiate pentathletes. Hahn’s 8.97 effort in the 60-meter hurdles left her 12th among 16 competitors after the first of five events. Hahn quickly changed the individual standings in the high jump. Facing a pair of SEC rivals and high jump specialists in Hyleas Fountain of Georgia and Chelsa Hammond of South Carolina, Hahn converted second attempts at 5’9.75″ and 5’10.75″ to eliminate all competitors but Fountain. Hahn set the new team indoor mark by clearing 6’0″ on her third and final attempt while Fountain were unable to achieve the height. When the high jump concluded, Hahn stood second overall behind Fountain. Hahn’s chances for a top five finish suffered from a sub-par performance in the shot put. Her best throw of 36’11” was feet feet shorter than her recent effort SEC Championships. Hahn closed the pentathlon with indoor personal bests in the long jump (18’1″) and 800 meters (2:20.49). Fountain captured the individual title, narrowly missing her collegiate record with a total of 4,412 points. She was followed by Jacquelyn Johnson of Arizona State, 4,263; Brooke Meredith of California, 4,189; JaNelle Wright of Kansas State, 4,173; and Hammond, 4,144. Hahn defeated Ashley Selig of Nebraska for sixth place by 10 points. Hahn also competed in the individual high jump, but did not place among the top eight finishers. |
