Big things happen in the Big Apple. Just ask Anna Hall.
When the indoor season was over for nearly everyone in Colorado, Hall made the trip to New Balance Nationals with one thing on her mind--the pentathlon. Of course, the pentathlon is really five things. To win, you must do credibly well in all five events, and you probably have to excel in at least one of the five events.
Hall didn't raise many eyebrows in the first two pentathlon events, the 100 hurdles and shot put, but she did what she needed to do; she kept herself within striking range.
Things started taking a stronger turn in the long jump, but it was the last two events--the high jump and 800--where Hall brought home the national title. Hall's 5-10.5 was six inches, and nearly 200 points, better than the rest of the field. It was also a personal best in the high jump by two inches.
The high jump effort put Hall into the lead, but Florida's Alix Still remained very much within striking range with the 800 meter competition still remaining.
But, what a lot of folks didn't know yet was that Hall had been paying her 800 meter dues all winter long in training. Hall stormed the track with a 2:20.98, finishing second in the 800 meter competition and padding her margin for the national indoor pentathlon title.
To go with her high jump PR, Hall also established a pentathlon PR with 3740 points, 193 points up on second place.
