2008 Woodie Awards
Pitz finds early success
Athlete breaks record, qualifies for nationals
Michael Jefferies
Issue date: 3/23/06 Section: Sports
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Thousands of athletes compete in track and field events across the country every year. Some of them run sprints while others pace themselves in long distance races.
Some athletes compete in jumping hurdles, long jumping or high jumping while others throw shot puts. But, it takes a special athlete to be able to do all of the events at one time.
Central's Lori Pitz is one of those special athletes. Pitz competes in heptathlons where she tries her hand in seven events over a two-day period.
Last weekend Pitz broke her previous school record in the heptathlon by scoring 5,009 points and took first place in the Angelo State Spring Break Multi Events competition in San Angelo, Texas.
"You never know who's going to win these events," said Kip Janvrin, co-head track and field coach. "I don't think it was Lori's goal to win as much as it was her goal to compete hard and do well. But, I'm pleasantly surprised with her win. She did a great job."
Top of the charts
Pitz's 5,009 points were not only enough for a first place finish and new school record, but they were also the most points scored so far this year in NCAA-II, making Pitz the No. 1 heptathlon athlete through the first week of the season.
"I was really excited to win and then to see that I was ranked No. 1 in the country," Pitz said. "Breaking 5,000 points has always been a goal of mine, and it was exciting for me to get to that mark at the beginning of the year."
During the first day of a heptathlon, competitors run the 100-meter hurdles, do the high jump, throw the shot put and run the 200-meter dash.
The second day consists of the long jump, the javelin throw and the 800-meter dash.
Varying events
"Heptathlons are difficult because you have to have the speed of a sprinter and the strength of a distance runner and also be able to throw the shot put," Janvrin said.
A lot of hard work and training is put into preparing for a heptathlon.
Some athletes compete in jumping hurdles, long jumping or high jumping while others throw shot puts. But, it takes a special athlete to be able to do all of the events at one time.
Central's Lori Pitz is one of those special athletes. Pitz competes in heptathlons where she tries her hand in seven events over a two-day period.
Last weekend Pitz broke her previous school record in the heptathlon by scoring 5,009 points and took first place in the Angelo State Spring Break Multi Events competition in San Angelo, Texas.
"You never know who's going to win these events," said Kip Janvrin, co-head track and field coach. "I don't think it was Lori's goal to win as much as it was her goal to compete hard and do well. But, I'm pleasantly surprised with her win. She did a great job."
Top of the charts
Pitz's 5,009 points were not only enough for a first place finish and new school record, but they were also the most points scored so far this year in NCAA-II, making Pitz the No. 1 heptathlon athlete through the first week of the season.
"I was really excited to win and then to see that I was ranked No. 1 in the country," Pitz said. "Breaking 5,000 points has always been a goal of mine, and it was exciting for me to get to that mark at the beginning of the year."
During the first day of a heptathlon, competitors run the 100-meter hurdles, do the high jump, throw the shot put and run the 200-meter dash.
The second day consists of the long jump, the javelin throw and the 800-meter dash.
Varying events
"Heptathlons are difficult because you have to have the speed of a sprinter and the strength of a distance runner and also be able to throw the shot put," Janvrin said.
A lot of hard work and training is put into preparing for a heptathlon.