SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- University of New Mexico senior Keren Sari-Bentzur got off to rough start this afternoon at Hornet Stadium in the first four events of the heptahlon. Making her second-straight NCAA Outdoor Championships appearance, Sari-Bentzur closed day one tied for 25th with a score of 2,945. The Omer, Israel native will attempt to pull herself up the rankings over the course of three events tomorrow. Sari-Bentzur will open the day at 11 a.m. (MST) with her best event, the long jump, before competing in the javelin and 800 meters.

"Keren just didn't have a good start today," said UNM head coach Matt Henry. "She's had a great season and it's unfortunate that this happened to her today. We're hoping she can get out there and finish strong tomorrow."

Sari-Bentzur opened the day with a 17th-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles (14.84) before placing tied for 22nd in the high jump (5-02.50). She then wrapped up the day by taking 19th in the shot put (34-10.25) and 21st in the 200 (26.11). All four marks were well below her season-bests.

Sari-Bentzur has a season-best of 5,236 in the heptathlon this season and has finished with no less than 5,170 points in three competitions this spring. She placed ninth at last year's championships in Baton Rouge, La. with a score of 5,285.

Georgia junior Hyleas Fountain leads the competition with 3,684 points, followed by Idaho senior Angela Whyte (3,506), a two-year letterwinner for New Mexico from 1999-2000. SDSU teammates Leslie Miller, the MWC Champion, and Shannon Meyer are 15th and 21st, respectively. Ia

Lobos Track & Field

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