Results  |  Day 1 Recap

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – For a third time in her first four seasons of competition at East Stroudsburg University, junior Aspen Gaita is a Division II All-American.

Gaita receives first team All-America accolades after placing sixth in the heptathlon at the DII Outdoor Championships with a two-day total of 5,017 points. That score betters her previous ESU record of 4,991 points which was established at Kutztown in April, and it gives her the best-ever finish for a Warrior woman in the heptathlon at nationals.

The Stroudsburg native becomes just the fifth three-time All-American in program history. She had previously finished sixth in the indoor pentathlon this winter, and 12th in the same event back in 2017. Gaita transferred to ESU from Division I Kent State prior to her sophomore season in 2016-17.

The final three events of the multi were contested on Friday, beginning with the long jump. Gaita sat in 10th place out of 16 competitors through her first two attempts, but moved up to fourth with a clutch final effort of 18-10. That distance is just off her ESU record mark of 19-1 1/2 which was established at this year's All-American meet at Eiler-Martin Stadium.

Next up was the javelin, where Gaita registered a 12th place showing with a top heave of 96-5. She entered the 800m in fifth place overall with 4,242 points; only 125 points separated second through ninth place heading into the final event.

Gaita slipped one spot but maintained her first team All-America status after completing the 800m in a time of 2:23.65. That mark is over two seconds under her previous outdoor PR of 2:25.73, and it placed her 10th in Friday's competition.

Angelo State's Kami Norton took first place in the heptathlon with a final total of 5,336 points. Gaita's score was just 74 points back of Missouri Southern's Allie Heckemeyer in third place.

Gaita becomes the first outdoor All-American for the ESU women since Christina O'Connor placed sixth in the high jump in 2015. She will enter her senior season with seven school records: the 55m hurdles (indoors), 60m hurdles (indoors), 100m hurdles (outdoors), long jump (indoors and outdoors), pentathlon (indoors) and heptathlon (outdoors).

Aspen Gaita Full Heptathlon Results

100m Hurdles: 14.17, 1st of 16
High Jump: 5-4 1/4, t-3rd
Shot Put: 27-7 1/4, 16th
200m: 25.35, 2nd
Long Jump: 18-10, 4th
Javelin: 96-5, 12th
800m: 2:23.65, 10th

Final Score: 5,017 points, 6th of 16


ESU Women's Track and Field Multiple-Time All-Americans

6 – Lynn Mayer
4 – Christina O'Connor, Karen Way
3 – Jan Blake, Aspen Gaita
2 – Rose Mascoli, Leslie Martin, Jenn Grube, Tina Vosper, Jenn Moyer