EUGENE, Ore. – Akela Jones registered a performance of historic proportions, notching K-State Track and Field’s first individual national title by a women’s athlete since 2011 in the heptathlon and breaking the school record in the process. Tallying a gaudy 6,371 points, Jones broke Austra Skujyte’s school record of 6,275 points set in 2002, as well as became the sixth Wildcat women’s athlete ever to win an NCAA title outdoors.

 

Her record-setting performance came thanks to personal best showings in all but one of the heptathlon’s seven events. Jones dominated competition, leading the field for the remainder of the multi following the high jump on day one. She set one school record, three top-10 program heptathlon marks, as well as marked the second-best wind-assisted long jump mark in school history.

 

Entering the meet ranked No. 4 in the country, Jones, in only her second heptathlon of her career, bested the top-three heptathletes in the country, as well as reigning champion Kendell Williams of Georgia by 149 points for the victory.

 

Jones said she was elated to come out on top of a loaded field after leading following day one of competition.

Photo and story courtesy of Anthony Meier, K-State Graduate Assistant/ Athletic Communications