Hilary Coady

Hilary Coady broke one of the oldest school records at The College of Wooster and improved her chances of qualifying for the NCAA Div. III Outdoor Track & Field Championships in the heptathlon with a 4,593 score at Ohio Wesleyan University's Ron Althoff Invitational, held Monday and Tuesday in Delaware, Ohio.

The 4,593 points surpassed the previous Wooster best by a wide margin, 131 to be exact, with the former mark being established by Darlene Kemp back in the 1983 season (4,462). Coady has been steadily tracking down Kemp's record, with a previous best of 4,451.

More important to present day, Coady now holds the 14th-best heptathlon score in Div. III this season with just a few last-chance meets remaining prior to the NCAA bids officially being awarded. Last year, she qualified for the event and finished 21st in the country.

At the Ron Althoff Invite, Coady competed against several multi-event athletes who she could face again at nationals and placed second. She started off by breaking the 15-second barrier in the 100-meter hurdles at 14.99, which was fourth-fastest among the 14 participants, then was one of a sizable group to clear 5 feet, 1.75 inches in the high jump, added a solid throw of 31 feet, 11.25 inches in the shot put, and completed the first day with a strong time of 26.21 in the 200 meters.

Coady began day two on a good note, reaching 16 feet, 7.75 inches in the long jump, followed by a mark of 78 feet, 6 inches in the javelin. Most impressive, she wrapped up the grueling competition with a 2:20.44 run in the 800 meters, more than three seconds faster than anybody else at the meet.

Also representing Wooster was Paris Nahas, who sprinted to 25.76 in the 200 meters. She'll take another shot at lowering her season best (24.99) in an attempt to qualify for the NCAA's this Friday at North Central College's Gregory Invitational, as will teammate Evan Pannell in the men's long jump.