Millville’s Bryanna Craig recorded the best heptathlon by a Purdue woman in 22 years this weekend, scoring 5,411 points at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa.
That’s the No. 5 score in the world this year among juniors (under 20) and the No. 3 score in NCAA Division 1 among freshmen. She’s also now No. 24 among U.S. women.
Craig’s previous PR was 5,388 at the U.S. Junior Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., last June.
Craig didn’t set any PRs in her seven events, but she also didn’t have any weak events either. She scored fairly close to her PR in everything.
In the opening 100-meter hurdles, Craig ran 14.29 with legal wind (1.3) for 938 points, and she followed that with a strong result in the high jump, 916 points for a 5-8 ¾ clearance. She added 524 points in the shot put with a 32-6 ¼ on her first attempt and then finished Day 1 with a 25.10 in the 200 for 878 points.
On Day 2, she long jumped 18-2 ½ for 715 points – all three jumps were at 17-9 ½ or better – and then popped a 112-0 in the javelin, which was worth 555 points. In the closing 800, she ran 2:15.54 for 885 points, best in the competition.
Although she placed 4th overall, Craig was the top collegiate, finishing behind three post-collegiate competitors. She was the only collegian over 5,000 points.
Although she didn’t have any PRs, her 200, hurdles and high jump were PRs among performances in multi competitions.
Her lifetime bests are 24.95 in the 200, 14.08 in the hurdles (while she was at Lubbock Coronado High in Texas), 5-10 in the high jump (while at Ruston High in Louisiana), 18-7 ¼ in the long jump, 130-4 in the javelin, 34-4 ¼ in the shot put and 2:14.27 in the 800.
Craig’s score is 6th-highest all-time by a Purdue since Angela Craft scored 5,547 points when she placed 6th in the 2001 NCAA Championships at Hayward Field.
Craig is the No. 3 U.S. junior this year, behind Haley Rizek [5,612] and Cheyenne Williamson [5,595], with both those performances coming at Cougar Stadium in Azusa, Calif.
Craig also apparently anchored Purdue’s 4-by-4 in 54.77. Purdue placed 3rd in 3:38.47. The official results show Cierra Williams anchoring, but a story on Purdue’s web site says Craig anchored.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 