Schultz Wins Silver, St. John Sets National Record at Commonwealth Games

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Senior Jess St. John set a new Antigua and Barbuda national record in the women's shot put and sophomore Nina Schultz rounded out her heptathlon with a silver medal, in what was a spectacular showing at the Commonwealth Games in Carrara, Australia on Friday.

Schultz, a native of New Westminster, Canada, scored a personal-best 6,133 points in the women's heptathlon, earning silver in her first major senior championship. Katarina Johnson-Thompson of Australia was the only individual to outscore Schultz, scoring 6,255 points to win the event.

"Nina [Schultz] had four heptathlon personal bests on her way to over a hundred-point personal best score," Director of track and field and cross-country Cliff Rovelto said. "To come away with a medal of any type is pretty special. We are very proud of how she competed over the last two days."

Competing in her first Commonwealth Games, Schultz got started in the heptathlon on Wednesday in the 100-meter hurdles, where she got off to a great start by running a personal best 13.47 to score 1,055 points.

In the high jump portion of the heptathlon, Schultz continued to clear barriers by clearing a personal best 1.84m/6-00.50 to set another heptathlon personal best and place third in the event. Schultz cleared impressive heights in the event, helping her to second-place in the heptathlon after two events, behind only Johnson-Thompson.

The early personal bests carried Schultz throughout the competition, as she stayed in second place throughout the entirety of the heptathlon after the second event.

In the 200 meters, Schultz rounded out day one of the heptathlon with a season-best run of 23.56, which brought her day one total to 3,639 points. Through four events, Schultz trailed Johnson-Thompson 130 points with only the long jump, javelin and 800 meters remaining.

Meanwhile in the women's shot put, St. John, representing her native Antigua and Barbuda had a phenomenal week, which started on Wednesday. In the qualifying round of competition, St. John earned an auto-qualifier for the finals on her second attempt, which stood as a new national record of 16.90m/55-05.50. However, St. John would reach even farther distances in the finals on Friday.

Senior Jess St. John is ?? to the Commonwealth Games shot put finals with a Antigua and Barbuda national record throw of 16.90m/55-05.50 in the women's shot put!

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— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) April 12, 2018

On her third attempt in the women's shot put finals, St. John threw another national record of 17.32m/56-10 to put her in sixth place through the third round of throws. She would later finish in seventh place overall, in what was an impressive performance in her first Commonwealth Games.

Schultz returned to the women's heptathlon on Friday after a great start to the competition that put her in medal contention after four events. On Friday, she capped off her heptathlon performance with a series of solid performances.

In the long jump, Schultz put together another impressive showing by tying a personal best of 6.19m/20-03.75 to place second in the event and earn 908 points, though Johnson-Thompson won the event to bring the margin between first and second to 225 points.

In the final two events, Schultz secured a spot on the podium behind a great showing in the javelin and 800 meters. Going into the final event, Schultz was in second place behind Johnson-Thompson, with England's Niamh Emerson searching for silver in her strongest event.

In the 800 meters, Canadian teammate Angela Whyte helped pace Schultz through 500 meters to help Schultz close the gap on Emerson and secure the silver medal. Schultz ran a 2:17.40 to finish off her heptathlon performance with a personal-best 6,133 points and earn a spot on the podium in her first senior championship.

Congratulations to Nina Schultz! ??????

The #KStateTF sophomore won the silver medal in the Commonwealth Games heptathlon, scoring a HUGE personal best of 6,133 points! pic.twitter.com/N1SCjw6tUc
— K-State Track (@KStateTFXC) April 13, 2018

With the conclusion of the women's heptathlon and shot put, former Wildcat Alyx Treasure is the next to compete in the women's high jump final at 11:25 p.m. CT on Friday. Treasure will represent her native Canada in her first Commonwealth Games.

For more information on the Commonwealth Games, including a full schedule, entries and more, click here. Live stream will be available via WatchESPN by clicking here.

For the latest on K-State track and field follow @kstatesports and @KStateTFXC on Twitter or Kansas State Track & Field/Cross Country on Facebook.

Commonwealth Games (April 12-13)
Carrara Stadium
Carrara, Australia

Women's Heptathlon 100 Meter Hurdles
3. Nina Schultz, 13.47 (.6) (1,055 pts.) (P.R.)

Women's Heptathlon High Jump
3. Nina Schultz, 1.84m/6-00.50 (1,029 pts.) (P.R.)

Women's Heptathlon Shot Put
4. Nina Schultz, 12.13m/39-09.75 (670 pts.)

Women's Heptathlon 200 Meters
4. Nina Schultz, 25.02 (-.3) (885 pts.)

Women's Heptathlon Long Jump
2. Nina Schultz, 6.19m/20-03.75 (.3) (908 pts.) (P.R.)

Women's Heptathlon Javelin Throw
5. Nina Schultz, 43.11m/141-05 (727 pts.)

Women's Heptathlon 800 Meters
4. Nina Schultz, 2:17.40 (859 pts.) (P.R.)

Women's Heptathlon Final Scores
2. Nina Schultz, 6,133 (P.R.)

Women's Shot Put Qualifying Round
3. Jess St. John, 16.90m/55-05.50

Women's Shot Put Finals
7. Jess St. John, 17.32m/56-10 (P.R.) (National Record)

Kansas State University Athletics

Schultz Wins Silver, St. John Sets National Record at Commonwealth Games

Players Mentioned

Nina Schultz

Jess St. John

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