WAVERLY  —  Sophomores Mary Gray (West Des Moines, Waukee HS) and Kiki Pingel (Pella) took the top two spots in the pentathlon at the Wartburg Select on Friday.
           
Gray piled up a career-high total of 3,234 points for the win while Pingel had 3,058 points in second place. In the long jump, both Gray and Pingel recorded career-best marks, recording leaps of 16 feet, 9.25 inches and 16-5.75, respectively.
           
It was the same story in the 800-meter run as Pingel ran a 2:25.43 and Gray clocked a 2:25.86. Both times were career-best efforts for them.
           
"Our women struggled a little bit in the high jump but otherwise they did well," associate head coach Jim Fuller said. "They both ran the half well and it was Kiki's first time over five meters in the long jump."
           
Freshman Krissa Larson (Waverly, Waverly-Shell Rock HS) was also sixth with 2,412 points.
Through the first four of seven events in the men's heptathlon, Will Daniels (junior, Geenseo, Ill.) has 3,152 points and paces the field by over 474 points
           
"He had a solid first day," Fuller said. "He's to a point now where personal bests are harder to come by. He's got the three events that he's been working the hardest on tomorrow.

In his first heptathlon, Nick Thompson (freshman, Newhall, Benton HS) has 2,112 points after four events and is in fifth. Caleb Jennings (senior, Spirit Lake) has 1,905 points and is seventh place. After fouling out in the shot put, Jennings cumulative score took a hit.
           
"He's a young kid with a lot learn to still, but he's made some significant improvements in the high jump today," Fuller said. "He had a pretty good day one, but it looks bad because he fouled out in shot. He had two good throws but fell out of the ring."
           
The second day of competition at the Wartburg Select will start Saturday morning at 10 a.m.