For Immediate Release
Monday, April 27, 2015
Heptathlon Results
Championship Website

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Coming from behind for her first conference title, Katlyn Sawtelle overcame a day-one deficit to win the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Heptathlon Championship. Tying the point total that broke her own school record earlier this season, Sawtelle amassed 5,049 points to take the conference event title.  Her victory gives USF Track & Field 10 points for the women’s team score as the rest of the NSIC Track & Field Championships resume on May 8-9 and will be hosted by Sioux Falls at the USF Sports Complex.

After a 3,065-point output on day one, the Luverne, Minn. native was in second place by just 39 points. Starting day two with the long jump, Sawtelle held onto second place with a 5.21-meter (17 feet-1.25 inch) leap worth 617 points. Sawtelle moved two points ahead of day one leader, Minnesota Duluth’s Amelia Maher, but fell behind U-Mary’s Molly McDonald, who took a 102-point lead after recording the top long jump in the competition.

In the penultimate event, Sawtelle surged to the top of the leaderboard with a dominant toss in the javelin throw. Her 34.20-meter (112-2) toss was nearly a personal-best, but it was more than enough to distance herself from Maher and McDonald. Sawtelle’s mark was worth 556 points, which brought her total to 4,238, and vaulted her ahead of Maher by more than 150 points and 240 more than McDonald entering the final event.

Not leaving her own fate up to the field, Sawtelle ran to a personal-best 2:20.92 in the 800-meter run, posting the top time in the event to ensure the victory. Her 800-meter PR was worth 811 points, moving her final total to 5,049 for the win.

Sawtelle exorcised some demons with her victory; making up for four of the previous five NSIC combined event competitions in which she placed second. This is the first combined events NSIC championship for USF Track & Field and their 21st individual conference title, ninth outdoor, in their three years as members of the NSIC.

As their final tune-up, Sawtelle and the Cougars stay in Sioux Falls this weekend, competing at the Howard Wood Relays on May 1 and 2 at Howard Wood Field.

#NSICODTF