Jan. 28, 2011

• Complete Results  |  Complete Results

MADISON, Wis. – A pair of Badgers hold down the top two spots in the heptathlon halfway through the competition at the Wisconsin Elite Invitational.

Strong performances in the 60-meter hurdles, long jump and high jump have redshirt freshman Japheth Cato leading after day one at 3,164 points. Just behind is junior David Grzesiak with 3,062 points.

Cato started out strong in posting the best marks in the first two events. He finished first in the 60 meters with a time of 7.14 seconds and leapt 23 feet, 11 3/4 inches in the long jump.

Grzesiak closed the gap on Cato in the third event, however. With a personal-best throw of 45 feet, 3 inches, Grzesiak came away with the top mark in the shot put.

Junior Derek Steinbach also showed well in the shot put, throwing 44-8 to post the second-best score.

Ian Jansen rounded out the top three for Wisconsin in the shot put, heaving 37-3 1/4 to come in with the third-best throw.

With fans leading a clapping countdown Cato did not disappoint in the high jump.

Cato cleared a personal-best 6 feet, 11 1/2 inches and narrowly missed clearing the bar at 7-0 1/2 to take the top spot in the event. With top marks in three of the four events of the day, the redshirt freshman secured his lead.

Steinbach stands fourth at 2,744 and Jansen finished the day in fifth with 2,616 points.

Also Friday, freshman Danny Block launched a 187 foot, 6 inch-throw for the win in exhibition discus. While the mark does not count officially, Block’s throw was farther than Pete Leach’s 19-year-old UW school record of 186-0 in the outdoor discus.

The Wisconsin Elite Invitational continues Saturday, with the final three events of the heptathlon beginning at 10 a.m. Field events start at 1 p.m., and all events on the track will be held from 1:30-4 p.m. Admission is free.