UCSB’s Barbara Nwaba finished second in the heptathlon and Ryan Martin placed fourth in the 800 meters at the NCAA Track and Field Championships on Friday at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
Nwaba scored 5,927 points to finish behind three-time champion Brianne Theisen of Oregon, who set a meet record with 6,440 points. Nwaba’s best marks in the seven-event competition came in the high jump (6 feet, 1/2 inch, tying Theisen for first) and javelin (145-11).
Martin clocked 1:46.20 in the 800. His rival, Charles Jock, of UC Irvine, won the race in 1:45.59. Erik Sowinski of Iowa finished second in 1:45.90 and Elijah Greer of Oregon was third in 1:46.05.
Nwaba and Martin both earned All-American honors. They will next compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials, which begin on June 21 at Oregon’s Hayward Field.
