LeFever Holds Heptathlon Lead After Opening Day of CCAA Championships

Courtesy: UCSD Release: 05/05/11

Courtesy: Andy Wilhelm

Stephanie LeFever won the high jump with a leap of 5'5.25" on Thursday. She finished in the top two in all four of the day's events.

Day One Results

TURLOCK, Calif. - UC San Diego's Stephanie LeFever is currently leading the heptathlon field after the first day of the 2011 California Collegiate Athletic Association Track and Field Championships at Cal State Stanislaus' Al Brenda Track.

LeFever, who won the conference championship in the heptathlon in 2010, finished first or second in all four events on Thursday for a total of 3,092 points. She holds a 191-point lead over Cal State L.A.'s Tuekeha Huntly, who is second with 2,901 points. Kelly Clancey of Chico State is currently third with 2,852 points.

The senior from Aptos, Calif. got off to a great start on the day, winning the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.57. She followed that effort with a strong performance in the high jump, clearing 5'5.25" to claim first place in that event as well.

LeFever would finish second in both the shot put and 200-meter dash, posting respective marks of 35'7.75" and 25.96. Huntley won the shot with a toss of 36'3", while Cal State Stanislaus' Brittini Showers had the top time in the 200 at 25.57.

LeFever finished with a total of 5,161 points en route to the CCAA title in the heptathlon a year ago and will look to wrap up a second straight crown in the final three events on Friday. Her lifetime best in the hep also came in 2010 after she racked up 5,193 points at the Mt. SAC/California Invitational. That figure ranks second all-time in the UCSD record books.

The Tritons also have a competitor in the decathlon as junior Nick DeBeaubien currently ranks sixth in a field of nine athletes with 2,870 points. His best finish came in the shot put where he uncorked a throw of 39'7.75" to finish second. The Lake Forest, Calif. native placed fifth in both the long jump (19'1.5") and high jump (5'7.75"), seventh in the 400 (55.24) and ninth in the 100 (12.48).

Chico State's Michael Beeman leads the field with 3,361 points, while teammates Taylor Fulfer and John Brunk are second and third with 3,341 and 3,331 points, respectively.

The decathlon will conclude on Friday with the 110-meter hurdles at 10:00 a.m., followed by the discus at 10:40 and the pole vault at 11:40. The heptathlon will wrap up with the long jump, javelin and 800 beginning at noon. The rest of the CCAA Championships will also get going on Friday, with the field events starting at 1:00 p.m. and the running events following at 4:30.