Penn's Jancewicz triumphs in Penn Relays' heptathlon

PENN FRESHMAN Noel Jancewicz and Southern Connecticut State sophomore Nick Lebron earned titles at the Penn Relays yesterday.

Jancewicz captured the heptathlon title with 5,035 points and Lebron won the decathlon with 7,160 points.

Jancewicz became the third woman in Penn history to win the Penn Relays heptathlon, joining Shani Boston (2004) and Frances Childs (1988).

The Robbinsville, N.J., native is just the fourth athlete in school history to surpass 5,000 points in the event and now stands third all-time in the Penn record book.

Jancewicz held a slim 14-point lead after Day 1 on Tuesday with 3,090 points. She matched a career-best in the high jump when she was just one of two competitors to clear 5 feet, 7 inches. She was second in the shot put with a toss of 35 feet, 9 1/2 inches and second in the 200 meters (25.47 seconds). She was third in the 110-meter hurdles (15.30).

Yesterday, Jancewicz won the 800 (2:20.67) and the javelin (104 feet, 5 inches) and finished second in the long jump (17-1 1/2).

Claudette Day, of Northern Illinois, was second overall with 4,829 points.

Lebron is the first in Owls' program history to win the decathlon. His point total is the second-highest at the Penn Relays since 1999.

He was second after the first day of competition with 3,806 points, including a victory in the 400 meters (49.89 seconds) and second places in the shot put (42-8) and high jump (6- 7).

Yesterday, he earned an additional 3,354 points with victories in the 110-meter hurdles (14.61 seconds), pole vault (14-3 1/4) and 1,500 meters (4:39.05).

He was third in the 100 meters (11.45), fourth in the long jump (21-11 3/4) and discus (113-6), and sixth in the javelin (144-1).

Penn's Thomas Pitt, a sophomore from Malvern Prep, was the leader after Day 1 but was injured and did not compete in the 1,500 meters.

Kevin Enck of Buffalo was second overall with 6,647 points.

The relays continue today through Saturday at Franklin Field.