ASU’s Johnson leads Pac-10 heptathlon

The first day of events in the women’s heptathlon and men’s decathlon at the 2008 Pac-10 Conference Track & Field Championships came to a close Friday night on Joe Selleh Track at Sun Angel Stadium in Tempe with Arizona State senior Jacquelyn Johnson leading the heptathlon and sophomore Kyle Hitchcock ninth in the decathlon.

Jacquelyn Johnson may be the greatest athlete ever at ASU

Through four of seven events, Johnson has scored 3,691 points to take an 85-point lead over USC’s Nia Ali (3,606), while Oregon’s Brianne Theisen stands third with 3,369 points.

In the decathlon, Hitchcock has scored 3,228 points and is 32 points out of eighth place (Chris McGovern of Arizona). Ashton Eaton of Oregon leads the decathlon with 4,069 points.

Johnson, who is 76 points ahead of her school-record pace, won two events and placed in the top 4 in the other two. Her 3,691 points is a school first-day record.

Johnson opened the day with a pair of ASU heptathlon records, placing second in the 100-meter hurdles at 13.21 before tying for first in the high jump with an ASU heptathlon record clearance of 1.81 meters (5 feet, 11.25 inches).

The six-time national champion followed up her performance with a mark of 11.93 meters (39-01.75) in the shot put for the event victory. She closed out the day with a time of 24.31 in the 200-meter dash to finish fourth in the race.

Hitchcock, who is one point ahead of his personal best through Day 1, finished 10th in the 100 meters, ninth in the long jump, seventh in the high jump and ninth in the 400.

The events continue at 3;30 p.m. today.