A local track and field athlete set a new record in the U.S. recently.
Brianne Theisen of Humboldt, gained the most points ever in a pentathlon while competing in Washington.
While at the University of Washington Invitational, Brianne Theisen, a senior at the University of Oregon, set a collegiate best 4,507 points in the pentathlon, eclipsing the previous mark of 4,496 set at the 2008 NCAA championships in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2008.
Theisen got things rolling by winning the 60 metre hurdles in 8.45 seconds for 1,028 points. She then tied for first in the high jump with a mark of six feet (1.83 metres), worth 1,016 points.
"My start in the hurdles was really bad," Theisen said. "I felt like everyone was two steps in front of me before I finally got going."
In the shot put, Theisen scored her lowest total, picking up 707 points with a throw of 41 feet, eight inches (12.70 metres).
Theisen was pleased with her personal bests in the high jump and shot put, but said that the hurdles, normally one of her best events, may have been her worst this time.
"The high jump actually felt a little rusty," Theisen said. "It felt awkward, which is strange to say, clearing six feet. I am really happy with the shot, but I know I can go farther."
In the long jump, Theisen collected 856 points with a leap of 19 feet, nine inches (6.02 metres), to give her 3,607 points with the 800 metre left to run.
Needing to run the race in at least 2:15.23 to get the points record, Theisen shot out of the gate, taking command of the race from the start. She crossed the 400 metre mark in 1:03, then went through the 600 mark at 1:37, finishing the race in 2:14.50.
Asked after the race about her fast start, Theisen said she looks at the 800 metre race as a 500, followed by a 300 that she knows will hurt.
"If I could hang on the last 200, I thought to myself I'd have a shot at it," she explained.
Breaking the record is a good start to the season for Theisen.
"Scoring 4,507 and breaking the record really gives me a lot of confidence going forward the rest of the season," Theisen said.
Now she will focus on defending her NCAA pentathlon title at the NCAA championships at College Station, Texas in March.
Theisen has also been rewarded for her hard work last year. She was awarded the Bill Hayward Award for Female Amateur Athlete of the Year in Oregon. This award was for her accomplishments in 2010 - winning the NCAA title in both the pentathlon and heptathlon as well as being on the winning 4 X 400 metre relay team.
