Ella Rush started her 2023 outdoor Heptathlon campaign in fine style by getting over the 5400 points target set by U.K. Athletics for this Summer’s European Under 20 Championships in Jerusalem. She finished ninth in a very strong field at the Mt. Sac Relays in Walnut, California scoring 5422 points.
The Mt. Sac Relays is one of the American College’s premier meetings. Now in its 63rd Year it always attracts many of the U.S.A’s elite athletes. Lined up against Ella was Chari Hawkins, the 2022 American Indoor Pentathlon Champion and World Championship outdoor Heptathlon finalist from Doha in 2019. Other strong contenders in the field included Norwegian International Ida Eikeng (Washington State) and Allie Jones (University of Southern California), the NCAA Indoor Pentathlon silver medalist.
Despite carrying a slight foot strain Ella started her first day in fine fettle recording an excellent personal best in the 100m Hurdles. Her time of 14.27 seconds was over half a second faster than her previous. best. A conservative High Jump of 1.68m was followed by a Shot Put of 11.83m. She finished day one recording 25.12 seconds in the 200m leaving her with a score of 3283 points after four events.
Ella opened Day 2 with a solid Long Jump of 5.96m and then went on to complete the Javelin with a best effort of 32.81m. Running within herself in the final event, the 800m, she passed the finish line in 2:23.81 minutes. A tot up of the scores revealed a final tally of 5422 points, enough to get over the European qualification target.
Ella was pleased with the performance overall considering that she is not yet in top form. She commented:
“I was happy to get the European qualification mark but know that there is more to come when fully fit. I’m hoping now to push towards getting a higher score at the South Eastern Conference Championships in four weeks time”
The Heptathlon was won by Jones who produced five personal bests to score an impressive 6217 points. The strength in depth of Collegiate muti-eventing was evident with the second and third placed athletes, Eikeng and Beatrice Juskeviciute (Vanderbilt) also getting over the 6000 points barrier. Event favourite Hawkins, withdrew before the final 800m.
Credits
Report – Joe McColgan
Photo – University of Georgia Track and Field
Credits
Report – Joe McColgan
Photo – University of Georgia Track and Field