Brockton Enterprise: "Brockton's Joseph, Rockland's Jasper Earn All-American Honors"
Worcester Telegram & Gazette: "WSU's Jasper Eighth At NCAAs"
Delaware, OH --- Junior Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) collected 4,714 points and finished eighth overall with All-American accolades in the heptathlon to help pace the Worcester State women's track and field team on the second day at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Ohio Wesleyan
After starting off the competition with a 15-9 (4.80 meters) in the long jump, she heaved the third-longest javelin throw (125-5/38.23m) heading to the final event. In the 800 meters, she put up the fastest time in the last three seasons by any WSU student-athlete with a time of 2:27.01 to solidify her spot among the nation's best.
With her finish, Jasper became the second female student-athlete to capture All-American laurels in the heptathlon as Elke Aun accomplished the feat three times with a National Championship in 1996. Jasper's final score is the second-highest sum ever put up at the NCAA Outdoor meet as she beat out Aun's 1994 tie for eighth (4,458 points) and when Aun equaled sixth in 1996 (4,629 points).
Jasper entered this week's competition with 4,741 points – a personal best – which helped shatter an eight-year meet record with the top finish at the Division III New England Championships on May 3.
Sophomore Amelia Campbell (Sturgeon Bay, WI) of Carleton beat out a field of 22 entrants with the third highest score in Division III history (5,221 points).
Jasper's final total also was the highest individual sum for an individual from New England as she bested sophomore Addison Carajal (Seattle, WA) of Bowdoin (10th – 4,604 points) and senior Abigal Bishop (Hancock, MA) of Coast Guard (13th – 4,515 points).
The fastest 800 meter run previously had been run by former standout Erin Donohue at Fitchburg State on April 21, 2012 (2:27.70) – just seven seconds off the current school record which was ironically set by Aun when she established the current heptathlon record at Holy Cross (4,849 points) during her junior semester.
Jasper ended her 2014 outdoor campaign with a finish of 21st in the open javelin competition on Saturday afternoon (124-6/37.95m).
For her outstanding efforts at the NCAA Championships, Jasper was recognized as the MASCAC Field Athlete of the Week.
From Thursday: "Jasper Takes 10th Overall On First Day Of Heptathlon At NCAA Championships"
Delaware, OH --- Junior Alyssa Jasper (Rockland, MA) netted 2,844 points on the first day of the heptathlon at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Ohio Wesleyan this evening at Selby Stadium.
Jasper is just 360 points off of leader sophomore Amelia Campbell (Sturgeon Bay, WI) of Carlton, who entered the event which included 22 entrants as the top seed. Among New England competitors, she is just 18 points off of sophomore Addison Carvajal (Seattle, WA) of Bowdoin, who's in eighth.
In the opening set of events, Jasper had the third best shot put (38-6.25/11.74m), the fourth fastest 200 meter sprint (25.64) and she was seventh in the 100 meter hurdles (15.11) to start off the day. Jasper was also had a leap of 4-8.25 (1.43m) in the high jump.
MASCAC Weekly Women's Outdoor Track & Field Report
Bottom Photo (Courtesy of Jim Lemieux): Jasper poses (Third from left in front row) with the 22 entrants in the Division III Outdoor Championship heptathlon field
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