UOlivet’s Norkowski wins heptathlon, Baynes finishes eighth at MIAA Multi-Events

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The University of Olivet senior Emily Norkowski finished first and sophomore Ellie Baynes was eighth in the heptathlon at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Multi-Events, hosted by Calvin University. The MIAA added the multi-events to the Outdoor Track & Field Championships for the first time this season, with the top eight finishers earning points towards the team championship, and the winner earning All-MIAA First Team honors and the runner-up earning All-MIAA Second Team honors.

The heptathlon is a two-day event, with four events on the first day and three events on the second day. The first day took place yesterday, and the event concluded this afternoon. Points are awarded based on your performance in each event, with the winner being declared by total points accumulated over the seven events.

Norkowski finished the two days with 3,976 points. In the first day of competition, she had the fastest time in the 100-meter hurdles at 15.68 seconds, which gave her 754 points. Norkowski then tied for the top spot in the high jump with a personal best mark of 4 feet and 11-1/2 inches for 632 points. She had the third-best performance in the shot put at 28 feet and 11 inches for 452 points. Norkowski ended the day with the second-fastest time in the 200-meter dash at 27.26 seconds, which is worth 690 points. With 2,528 points, she was in second after the first day of competition and trailed Ella Easterling from Calvin by 39 points.

Norkowski began day two by having the second-best mark in the long jump at 15 and 7 inches, which is worth 492 points. The mark propelled her into a 20-point lead in the overall standings. Norkowski had the top mark in the javelin at 84 feet and 2 inches for 395 points and increased her overall lead to 66 points. Norkowski ended the competition with the fourth-fastest time in the 800-meter run at 2:41.05, which gave her 561 points, and beat Easterling by 99 points.

Baines totaled 2,584 points over the seven events. Her marks were 19.47 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles (348), 3 feet and 10-1/2 inches in the high jump (293), 24 feet and 3-3/4 inches in the shot put (361), 29.31 seconds in the 200-meter dash (531), 14 and 1/4 inches in the long jump (371), 81 feet and 8 inches in the javelin (380) and 3:07:33 in the 800-meter run (300). Baynes' mark in the javelin was the second best of the nine competitors.

Norkowski and Baynes are the third and fourth women in UOlivet history to compete in the heptathlon. Norkowski's point total ranks only behind Cassie Ciaravino's top mark of 4,263 points. Baynes' points are third-most.