Whigham, Rhoads Start Strong at Jim Click Shootout

TUCSON, Arizona – Iowa State's multi-event athletes got off to strong starts halfway through their competitions at the Jim Click Shootout Multi's. Thursday competition saw Emma Whigham use her prowess on the track to have her in ninth place in a competitive heptathlon with 2,976 points. Meanwhile, Wyatt Rhoads recorded three personal bests to sit in sixth place of the decathlon with 3,357 points.

Whigham did her damage in the running events, scoring over 900 points in the 100-meter hurdles and the 200-meter dash. She started her day with a 14.48 in the hurdles, just off her PR of 14.43, and closed the day with the second-best time in the 200 at 24.82. The sophomore's 2,976 points is just 20 off her pace when she scored her career-best 5,151 points en route to a bronze medal at the 2016 USATF Junior National Championships.

As for Rhoads, he was also very strong in the running events, starting the day with a wind-legal personal best of 11.52 in the 100-meter dash. The sophomore from Ames proceeded to close out the day with another personal best, clocking in at 50.10, the second-fastest time of the competition. In between, Rhoads also recorded a career-best effort in the high jump with a clearance of 3,357.

After five events, Rhoads' 3,357 points has him just ahead of his pace from last season's Big 12 Outdoor Championships when he finished the first day with 3,342 points. Last May in Fort Worth, Rhoads went to finish with 6,494 points.

Up Next
Rhoads and Whigham resume their multi-event activities tomorrow at noon Central Time. Meanwhile, the Iowa State hammer throwers will be in action at the Sun Angel Track Classic in Tempe, starting at 3 p.m. CDT.

Iowa State Results
Heptathlon (thru 4 of 7 events): 1. Nina Schultz, Kansas State – 3,533; 8. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 2,976
100m Hurdles (Hep.): 1. Nina Schultz, Kansas State – 13.83; 9. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 14.48
High Jump (Hep.): 1. Nina Schultz, Kansas State – 5-8 3/4; T-14. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 5-0 1/2
Shot Put (Hep.): 1. Jessica Barreira, Arizona State – 41-6 1/4; 16. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 31-0 3/4
200m Dash (Hep.): 1. Nina Schultz, Kansas State – 24.43; 2. Emma Whigham, Iowa State – 24.82

Decathlon (thru 5 of 10 events): 1. Trent Nytes, Wisconsin – 3,817; 6. Wyatt Rhoads, Iowa State – 3,357
100m Dash (Dec.): 1. Damian Warner, Nike – 10.48; 5. Wyatt Rhoads, Iowa State – 11.52
Long Jump (Dec.): 1. Damian Warner, Nike – 24-5 1/2; 6. Wyatt Rhoads, Iowa State – 20-9
Shot Put (Dec.): 1. Damian Warner, Nike – 48-1 1/2; 6. Wyatt Rhoads, Iowa State – 33-4 1/4
High Jump (Dec.): 1. Trent Nytes, Wisconsin – 6-7 3/4; T-6. Wyatt Rhoads, Iowa State – 5-11 1/2
400m Dash (Dec.): 1. Jonah Elbaz, Saint Laurent Select – 50.07; 2. Wyatt Rhoads, Iowa State – 50.10