LUBBOCK, Texas—Nebraska sophomore Megan Wheatley has won back-to-back Big 12 heptathlons, amassing a personal best 5,800 points and finishing in the top two in all of the event’s competitions.
Wheatley, No. 16 in the nation coming into the meet, is the fifth straight Cornhusker to win the conference title in the event.
Her score Saturday could move up to No. 3 in the nation.
“It’s a huge confidence builder for me,” she said. “I’m very surprised with my score.”
Second place in the heptathlon went to Missouri senior Kaela Rorvig (5,372 points). Third place went to Huskers sophomore Rachel Butler (5,068 points).
The Australian finished second in the event’s final competition, completing the 800-meter run in 2 minutes, 9.78. First place went to Colorado freshman Brianne Beemer who ran it in 2:17.40.
Beemer passed Wheatley going into the final curve and pulled away from her down the stretch.
The temperature was cooler Saturday—about 45 degrees colder than Friday—and Wheatley likes warmer temperatures in which to compete.
“I didn’t enjoy it but I pushed through it the best I could,” she said. “I ran as fast as I could so if someone can run faster, that’s fine.”
The win earned Wheatley an automatic bid to the NCAA meet in June in Fayetteville, Ark.
In the men’s decathlon, Kansas State’s sophomore Moritz Cleve (5,827 points) overtook freshman teammate Mantas Silkauskas (5,773 points) in the standings Saturday when he won the discuss with a throw of 134 feet, 7 inches.
Silkauskas, who led through the first six events, tossed it for 121 feet, 4 inches.
The pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter race remained Saturday.
Short and middle distance races were scheduled for later Saturday.
