Missouri State University

Missouri State's multi-event specialist Tracy Partain is second in the heptathlon at the conclusion of Thursday's first day of the 3rd Annual Audrey Walton Combined Events in Columbia, Mo. Kim Carter is also competing for the Bears in the heptathlon and ended the day in 11th place.

After four completed events, Partain has tallied a score of 3,410, trailing first-place by only 38 points. In the 100-meter hurdles, Partain finished second with a time of 13.73. She tied for a third-place finish in the high jump competition, clearing 5'5 1/4" and placed fourth in the shot put, with a throw of 39'1". Partain ended the afternoon with a first-place 200-meter run time of 24.51, a personal-best.

Carter, after four events, has a totaled a score of 2,910. She ran a time of 14.99 in the 100-meter hurdles, earning her ninth in the event. Carter cleared a height of 4'10 1/4 in the high jump competition and threw the shot put a distance of 35'3 3/4". In the 200-meter dash, the final event of the afternoon, Carter placed third with a time of 24.98.

Partain and Carter will compete in the final three events of the heptathlon at Friday's final day of the Audrey Walton Combined Events. The long jump is schedule for 1 p.m., followed by the javelin throw at 2 p.m., concluded with the 800-meter run at 4 p.m.

The 10th annual Tom Botts Invitational also begins Friday, April 14, in Columbia, Mo., in which the Bears' track and field teams will be competing. The Tom Botts Invite is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., Friday, and conclude Saturday with the 4x400-meter relay at 3 p.m.

Missouri State will also be represented at the 40th annual University of Tennessee Sea Ray Relays, in Knoxville, Tenn., beginning Friday, April 14.