AUSTIN, Texas — Competing in the heptathlon for the first time at the NCAA Championships, senior Erinn Beattie recorded a new lifetime best and school record 5,924 points for a fifth place finish among the world's elitist athletes.
With a huge 253 point personal record in the combined event, Beattie notched three lifetime best marks, an outdoor best in the shot put, a heptathlon best in the long jump, and the second-best marks of her career in both the high jump and the 800m. One of her PR's came in the form of the javelin, the only event Beattie had not recorded improvement in this year.
To start the second day of competition, Beattie notched a 6.09m (19-11.75) in the long jump on her first attempt, taking third in the event with 877 points for a heptathlon PR.
Continuing onto the javelin, Beattie threw less than ideal on the first attempt, before unleashing a throw of 36.35m (119-03) for a near-two meter PR, and career-best 597 points.
Setting up a battle for third place with Miami's Michelle Atherley, the 2019 NCAA Indoor pentathlon champion, and UC Santa Barbara's Hope Bender, two-time Big West Champion, Beattie entered the heptathlon's final event, the 800m, sitting in sixth place overall.
Pacing the lead group as the only runner to cross below 2:11.00, Beattie paced the field, and crossed fifth in the event with a 2:12.63 finish in 95 degree heat.
Wrapping up an impressive career as an Aggie, Beattie leaves as one of the most decorated athletes in UC Davis history. Recently awarded the Dr. Hubert Heitman award for the top UC Davis female athlete of the year alongside women's basketball's Morgan Bertsch, Beattie is now a five-time USTFCCCA All-American, and has reached the NCAA podium three times in her career — twice in a multi.
Beattie finished 2018 as the runner-up in the open high jump, clearing the winning height, but awarded second placing based on attempts. In 2019, Beattie embraced her multi career, placing fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the pentathlon, with a school record 4,293 points, and now adds fifth at this year's outdoor championships.
Leaving UC Davis, Beattie has rewritten the track & field record books and holds five school records: indoor long jump, pentathlon, indoor and outdoor high jump, and the heptathlon. Beattie's heptathlon score was just shy of the 6000 point threshold, but is now ranked among the top 30 in the world this year.
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY FOUR RESULTS
Event Winners and UC Davis only
Heptathlon
1. Ashtin Zamzow, Texas, 6222 pts
2. Tyra Gittens, Texas A&M, 6049 pts
3. Michelle Atherley, Miami, 6014 pts
4. Hope Bender, UC Santa Barbara, 5955 pts
5. Erinn Beattie, UC Davis, 5924 pts
Long Jump
1. Tyra Gittens, Texas A&M, 6.31m/20-08.50
3. Erinn Beattie, UC Davis, 6.09m/19-11.75
Javelin
1. Ashtin Zamzow, Texas, 49.56m/162-07
14. Erinn Beattie, UC Davis, 36.35m/119-03
800m
1. Hope Bender, UC Santa Barbara, 2:10.10
5. Erinn Beattie, UC Davis, 2:12.63
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