N'Douma-Mona Leads Heptathlon After Day One

SAN MARCOS, Texas – Two multi-event athletes began action at the Bobcat Invite & Multi, taking on day one of the heptathlon. Zola N'Douma-Mona went out to a big day one performance to lead all through the first four events.

N'Douma-Mona dominated the first event, hurdling to a 100m hurdles time of 13.46, the fifth-fastest wind-legal performance in Iowa State history by any hurdler. The freshman won the event by over half a second while Maia Denge-Hagen finished sixth in 14.65, her first time in the event.

N'Douma-Mona next won the heptathlon high jump with a clearance of 5-5 1/4 (1.66m). The France native cleared 5-3, 5-4 1/4 and 5-5 1/4 on her first attempt. Denge-Hagen provided a one-two finish with her mark of 5-4 1/4 (1.63m).

In the next event, the shot put, N'Douma-Mona again took the event win with a strong mark of 43-8 (13.31m).

Day one closed with the 200m and N'Douma-Mona taking second just behind first with a PR of 24.78. Denge-Hagen took fifth through all heats with an outdoor-best 25.37.

With the first day of the seven-event heptathlon complete, N'Douma-Mona stands in first with 3,517 points, the best day one score by 314 points. Denge-Hagen stands fifth overall with 2,981.

Denge-Hagen and N'Douma-Mona take on the final three events of the heptathlon at the Bobcat Invite & Multi, and Cyclones begin competition at the Stanford Invite and UCSD Triton Invite tomorrow.

Iowa State Results

Heptathlon 100m Hurdles (W): 1. Zola N'Douma-Mona, Iowa State – 13.46; 5. Maia Denge-Hagen, Iowa State – 14.65

Heptathlon High Jump (W): 1. Zola N'Douma-Mona, Iowa State – 5-5 1/4 (1.66m); 2. Maia Denge-Hagen, Iowa State – 5-4 1/4 (1.63m)

Heptathlon Shot Put (W): 1. Zola N'Douma-Mona, Iowa State – 43-8 (13.31m); 13. Maia Denge-Hagen, Iowa State – 29-9 1/2 (9.08m)

Heptathlon 200m (W): 1. Mayalee Osola, Cal St. Fullerton – 24.71; 2. Zola N'Douma-Mona, Iowa State – 24.78 (PR); 5. Maia Denge-Hagen, Iowa State – 25.37