Friday, March 8
Boston, Mass.
Michigan State University
at
NCAA Indoor Championships
Baldwin Moves into All-Time Record Books on Way to Heptathlon Runner-Up at NCAA Championships
3/9/2024 5:16:00 PM | Track and Field
Kalamazoo native has best ever Big Ten score, sixth-best all-time
BOSTON, Mass. – Michigan State's Heath Baldwin finished runner-up in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship heptathlon Saturday with the collegiate all-time sixth best and Big Ten best-ever score of 6238 points.
"It feels good to do something I know I was capable of," Baldwin, a graduate student, said. "I've been looking forward to this moment the last couple of months in my training. I knew I was capable of taking a shot at the National Championship and I feel like I did do a good job of competing and giving myself a chance."
The seventh ever score of over 6000 points breaks the Kalamazoo, Mich. native's previous school record of 6000, accumulating his historic score with four personal records and two season-best marks.
"Heath is a phenomenal athlete," Director of Cross Country & Track and Field Lisa Breznau said. "People like Heath are rare but I know he'll stay level, keep a similar approach into outdoor season and achieve even high accolades. Coach Rich [Fisher] and Coach Holly [Hankenson] have collectively kept Heath in a competitive position, as have the rest of our staff at helping Heath be at his best."
Saturday Event Recap (60m Hurdles, Pole Vault, 1,000m)
The 2023 MSU Athletics George Alderton Male Athlete of the Year picked up right where he left off the day prior, blitzing to a 60m hurdles second place finish and heat win with a time of 7.91 that put him within reach of first place by just 31 points.
Next, in the pole vault, Baldwin would record his fourth personal record of the weekend, clearing 4.86m in the pole vault for the first time in his career. Texas' Leo Neugebauer would extend his lead three-fold however with a personal record of his own, clearing 5.16 meters.
To finish the day, Baldwin capped off a weekend of bests with a season-best 1,000m time of 2:45.20, good for eighth, ahead of Neugebauer. Neugebauer, however, secured the national championship as well as facility record and fourth best all-time overall score.
Friday Event Recap (60m, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump)
After day one Friday, through four of the heptathlon's seven events at The TRACK at New Balance, Baldwin collected 3,548 points and was 116 points behind the leader Neugebauer.
To start the weekend in this, Baldwin's sixth NCAA Championship between indoor and outdoor seasons, he blitzed to a 7.02 60 dash personal best to win his heat and finish sixth overall.
In the long jump, Baldwin again recorded a new PR, leaping to 7.42 meters to claim once again sixth out of the field of 16.
It was in the shot put that the experienced Spartan made up more ground in the standings, PRing for a third time in as many events to kick off the national championships. Baldwin hurled for a distance of 15.87 meters to finish runner up in the heptathlon's lone throwing segment.
Baldwin finished the day strong, winning the high jump outright with a height of 2.12 meters, tying his season-best mark. Neugebauer however PRed to finish second in the event after also winning the shot put and placing second in the long jump to maintain his hold on first.
Scoring Breakdown – 2nd, 6238 pts (SR)
60m Dash – 7.02 | 8th | 875pts (PR)
Long Jump – 7.42m | 6th | 915pts (PR)
Shot Put – 15.87m | 2nd | 843pts (PR)
High Jump – 2.12m | 1st | 915pts (SB)
60m Hurdles – 7.91 | 2nd | 1005pts
Pole Vault – 4.86m | 7th | 960pts (PR)
1,000m – 2:45.20 | 8th | 817pts (SB)
"It feels good to do something I know I was capable of," Baldwin, a graduate student, said. "I've been looking forward to this moment the last couple of months in my training. I knew I was capable of taking a shot at the National Championship and I feel like I did do a good job of competing and giving myself a chance."
The seventh ever score of over 6000 points breaks the Kalamazoo, Mich. native's previous school record of 6000, accumulating his historic score with four personal records and two season-best marks.
Runner-up, school record and the sixth best all-time score in the heptathlon with 6238 points ❕
— MSU Track & Field/XC (@MSU_TFXC) March 9, 2024
Heath Baldwin, what a weekend 🔥#GoGreen pic.twitter.com/JVCLwLn9Qg
"Heath is a phenomenal athlete," Director of Cross Country & Track and Field Lisa Breznau said. "People like Heath are rare but I know he'll stay level, keep a similar approach into outdoor season and achieve even high accolades. Coach Rich [Fisher] and Coach Holly [Hankenson] have collectively kept Heath in a competitive position, as have the rest of our staff at helping Heath be at his best."
Saturday Event Recap (60m Hurdles, Pole Vault, 1,000m)
The 2023 MSU Athletics George Alderton Male Athlete of the Year picked up right where he left off the day prior, blitzing to a 60m hurdles second place finish and heat win with a time of 7.91 that put him within reach of first place by just 31 points.
Next, in the pole vault, Baldwin would record his fourth personal record of the weekend, clearing 4.86m in the pole vault for the first time in his career. Texas' Leo Neugebauer would extend his lead three-fold however with a personal record of his own, clearing 5.16 meters.
To finish the day, Baldwin capped off a weekend of bests with a season-best 1,000m time of 2:45.20, good for eighth, ahead of Neugebauer. Neugebauer, however, secured the national championship as well as facility record and fourth best all-time overall score.
Friday Event Recap (60m, Long Jump, Shot Put, High Jump)
After day one Friday, through four of the heptathlon's seven events at The TRACK at New Balance, Baldwin collected 3,548 points and was 116 points behind the leader Neugebauer.
To start the weekend in this, Baldwin's sixth NCAA Championship between indoor and outdoor seasons, he blitzed to a 7.02 60 dash personal best to win his heat and finish sixth overall.
In the long jump, Baldwin again recorded a new PR, leaping to 7.42 meters to claim once again sixth out of the field of 16.
It was in the shot put that the experienced Spartan made up more ground in the standings, PRing for a third time in as many events to kick off the national championships. Baldwin hurled for a distance of 15.87 meters to finish runner up in the heptathlon's lone throwing segment.
Baldwin finished the day strong, winning the high jump outright with a height of 2.12 meters, tying his season-best mark. Neugebauer however PRed to finish second in the event after also winning the shot put and placing second in the long jump to maintain his hold on first.
Scoring Breakdown – 2nd, 6238 pts (SR)
60m Dash – 7.02 | 8th | 875pts (PR)
Long Jump – 7.42m | 6th | 915pts (PR)
Shot Put – 15.87m | 2nd | 843pts (PR)
High Jump – 2.12m | 1st | 915pts (SB)
60m Hurdles – 7.91 | 2nd | 1005pts
Pole Vault – 4.86m | 7th | 960pts (PR)
1,000m – 2:45.20 | 8th | 817pts (SB)
Players Mentioned
Multi-Event
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