Buffs Off To Great Start At CSM Alumni Classic & Multi

GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado sophomore Maja Wichhart-Donzo kicked off the 2016-17 indoor track season by finishing second in the pentathlon with a total score of 3,475 points, while freshman Drianna Mustin completed her first collegiate pentathlon fifth (3,351) to give CU two top-five finishes at the Colorado School of Mines Alumni Classic and Multi event on Thursday.

Pentathlon: Wichhart-Donzo got off to a stellar start at the meet, setting a personal best in the 60-meter hurdles in 8.95 seconds, which tied for ninth on CU's combined events 60-hurdles list. The 920 points earned in the event put her in first overall to start the competition.

In the following event, the high jump, Wichhart-Donzo cleared 5-1 before moving on to the shot put where she earned a toss of 32-3.50. She jumped 17-8.25 in the long jump before finishing the day with a time of 2:30.24 in the 800.

Teammate Mustin had a very nice debut. She started the day clocking a time of 9.28 in the 60-hurdles and then jumped 5-1 in the high jump. Mustin recorded a mark of 29-0.50 in the shot put before jumping 16-9.25 in the long jump. But the final event, the 800, was where she shined, winning it in 2:23.38, almost a full five seconds ahead of CSU-Pueblo's senior Andrea Tuck who finished behind Mustin in 2:28.92. The first-place finish skyrocketed Mustin from outside the top ten to fifth overall.

Heptathlon: CU junior Andrew Ghizzone wrapped up the first day of action in fifth place with 2,962 points. He started the day off squeaking out a 7.23 second PR in the 60-meters. Ghizzone then turned in a mark of 23-9.50 in the long jump, which broke CU's heptathlon long jump record (23-05.50) by four inches. The jump, combined with his hurdles time, put him fourth overall after two events.

Ghizzone slipped down to sixth after the shot put where he earned a toss of 37-0.50, but he turned in a PR of 6-3.25 in the high jump to finish the first day.

The Buffs had several others competing in the heptathlon. Sophomore Joseph Martinez is currently 14th (2,500), freshman Davis Butte is 15th (2,403), sophomore Nate Gravelding is 17th (2,400) and freshman Aaron Carmichael is 19th (2,222).

Up Next: The second day of the Mines Alumni Classic & Multi is scheduled for Friday. The Buffs will also have athletes competing at the Power Meet in Laramie, Wyo. and the Holiday Open at the Air Force Academy.

Quotable (CU Assistant Coach Lindsey Malone):
"Today was pretty awesome. The highlight of the day was Andrew in the long jump. He set the CU heptathlon long jump record, which is really fun. It's over a three-foot PR from high school for him. He has been working his tail off. He is also 200 points ahead of his personal best on the first day. Andrew competed with composure and class and I'm really excited to see what he will do on the second day."

"Overall we had three women and five men compete today. We had 22 personal bests, so it was a really exciting environment. There was a lot of team comradery."

"The pentathlon was a great high note to end on to show how much hard work they have put in this fall. I'm excited to see what we are going to be able to accomplish after we come back from break."

2016 Colorado School of Mines Alumni Classic and Multi Day One
Golden, Colo. (Steinhauer Fieldhouse)

Women's Pentathlon: (1. Andrea Tuck, CSU-Pueblo, 3,622) 2. Maja Wichhart-Donzo, 3,475; 5. Drianna Mustin, 3,351
60-Meter Hurdles: 1. Wichhart-Donzo, 8.95; 9. Mustin, 9.28; 19. Mariah Slack, 9.84
High Jump: (1. McKenna McGrath, UNAT-Northern Colorado, 5-5.75/1.67) t6. Mustin, 5-1/1.55; 9. Slack, 5-1/1.55; 11. Wichhart-Donzo, 5-1/1.55
Shot Put: (1. Tuck, CSU-Pueblo, 38-2/11.63) 8. Wichhart-Donzo, 32-3.50/9.84; 12. Slack, 30-9/9.37; 14. Mustin, 29-0.50/8.85
Long Jump: (1. Tuck, CSU-Pueblo, 18-0.25/5.49) 3. Wichhart-Donzo, 17-8.25/5.39; 11. Mustin, 16-9.25/5.11
800-Meters: 1. Mustin, 2:23.38; 3. Wichhart-Donzo, 2:30.24

Men's Heptathlon Day One: (1. Hunter Price, Colorado State, 3,449) 5. Andrew Ghizzone, 2,962; 14. Joseph Martinez, 2,500; 15. Davis Butte, 2,403; 17. Nate Gravelding, 2,400; 19. Aaron Carmichael, 2,222
60-Meters: (1. Shakiel Chattoo, Azusa Pacific, 6.81) t8. Ghizzone, 7.23; 12. Butte, 7.30; 15. Martinez, 7.41; 17. Gravelding, 7.45; 18. Carmichael, 7.60
Long Jump: (1. Hunter Price, Colorado State, 24-2.50/7.38) 3. Ghizzone, 23-9.50/7.25; 15. Butte, 20-3.50/6.18; 16. Carmichael, 20-0.50/6.11; 17. Martinez, 19-11.50/6.08; 19. Gravelding, 19-8/5.99
Shot Put: (1. Price, Colorado State, 44-4.75/13.53) 8. Ghizzone, 37-0.50/11.29; 16. Martinez, 31-3.75; 19. Gravelding, 30-5.75/9.29; 20. Carmichael, 30-0.25/9.15; 23. Butte, 26-11.25/8.21
High Jump: (1. Price, Colorado State, 6-11.50/2.12) 8. Ghizzone, 6-3.25/1.91; 11. Martinez, 6-2/1.88; 13. Gravelding, 5-11.50/1.82; 15. Butte, 5-10.50/1.79; 20. Carmichael, 5-4.50/1.64

Buffs Off To Great Start At CSM Alumni Classic & Multi

Players Mentioned

Davis Butte

Aaron Carmichael

Andrew Ghizzone

Nate Gravelding

Drianna Mustin

Mariah Slack

Maja Wichhart-Donzo

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