PA\'s Hyleas Fountain wins at USA Combined Championships

USATF Release: Harlan, Fountain win at USA Combined Championships

Sunday, March 6, 2005
Chapel Hill, NC
http://www.usatf.org/events/2005/USAIndoorCEChampionships/schedule.asp

Ryan Harlan and Hyleas Fountain won their respective men\'s and women\'s titles Sunday at the 2005 USA Indoor Combined Events Championships at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

The 23-year-old Harlan lead after the first day of competition and held off a late comeback on Sunday by defending champion and 2004 Olympian Paul Terek to win the men\'s title with 6,102 points. \"I knew he (Terek) would make a comeback, he\'s a good competitor,\" said Harlan. \"There is no easy victory over Paul because is going to be there pushing you to do your best.\"

The 2004 NCAA D-I decathlon champion, Harlan won three of seven events contested. The former Rice University standout won the shot put (16.09m/52-9.5), the high jump (2.13m/6-11.75) and the 60m hurdles (7.97). \"I thought I could do better in the shot put, but it was a PR so I\'m happy with my performance,\" Harlan continued.

The two-time defending champion Terek was the runner-up with 5,972 points, after ending the first day of competition in second place. The 2003 NCAA D-I decathlon champion, Stephen Moore finished third with 5730 points.

In the women\'s pentathlon competition, Fountain, the 2003 NCAA heptathlon champion, 2004 NCAA long jump champion and \'04 heptathlon runner-up, won the event and tied her personal best with 4,417 points over runner-up Fiona Asigbee (4,347 points). Jackie Poulson was third with 4,268 points, with GiGi Miller fourth with 4,262 points.

Out of the five women\'s events contested on Sunday, Fountain won two of them. Her wins were in the high jump (1.84m/6-0.5) and the long jump (6.20m/20-4.25). \"I came in feeling really good after competing last week at the USA Indoor Championships (part of the Visa Championship Series),\" said Fountain.

\"I\'m really pleased with my high jump since I set a PR. My overall score 4,417 ties my PR so I am excited with my overall performance. I always get really nervous before the 800m and I don\'t know why, but maybe because it was my worst event,\" Fountain continued.