COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Washington State's Alissa Brooks-Johnson (redshirt senior, Doty, Wash.) finished 11th in the women's pentathlon with a score of 4,060 points Friday evening at Texas A&M's Gilliam Indoor Stadium in College Station, Texas.
 
Brooks-Johnson opened the NCAA meet with a 60m hurdles time of 8.63 seconds which was 11th-fastest out of the 16 competitors. In the high jump, she started with a first attempt clearance with the bar at 4-11 1/2 (1.51m), passed at 5-0 1/2 (1.54m), and then had first attempt success at the heights of 5-1 3/4 (1.57m) and at 5-3 (1.60m). She cleared the next bar at 5-4 1/4 (1.63m) on her second attempt but cleared 5-5 1/4 (1.66m) on the first try. She ended the high jump clearing 5-6 1/2 (1.69m) on her second attempt but missed on all three attempts at the next height of 5-7 3/4 (1.72m). She moved up to ninth place overall in the pentathlon after two events.
 
Her first throw in the shot put was a season-best heave of 38-7 1/2 (11.77m), improved that on her second attempt with a toss of 39-3 1/4 (11.97m), and ended the event with a season-best distance of 40-0 1/2 (12.20m). After this event she was 10th overall with 2,505 points, 314 points out of first place, eight points from ninth, and 22 points for eighth place.
 
In the long jump Brooks-Johnson opened with a leap of 18-2 1/2 (5.55m), reached 18-1 1/2 (5.52m) in her second jump, and soared to a distance of 18-8 1/2 (5.70m) in her final jump but dropped to 10th in the overall standings. She ran the final event, the 800m, in a time of 2 minutes 22.07 seconds, 12th-fastest of the field.
 
Brooks-Johnson's PR total of 4,190 points (converted by the NCAA to 4,212 points) was performed at the Cougar Indoor meet Feb. 2 in Pullman.
 
Taliyah Brooks, a senior at Arkansas, won the pentathlon with a score of 4,572 points.
 
THEY SAID:
Wayne Phipps, WSU Director of Cross Country/Track & Field said, "I thought Alissa competed very well. She set-up herself very well with her first four events. The 800m, which is typically her best event, was a battle for her and because of a lot of contact she struggled to find her rhythm and then left her a little tired when it was really time to go with a lap remaining. Placing 11th in her first time ever at the indoor championships was a great finish, although a little short of her goal of being a first team All-American, and provides a strong foundation for a great outdoor season."

Alissa Brooks-Johnson said, "I was very proud of my 11th place as this was my first indoor national experience. In the 800, I had a difficult time with the number of girls in the race which created a lot of contact. I couldn't find the ability to run my own race due to that conflict. However I am confident in my training and ability to run a successful 800 meter race and I'm excited for outdoor season. I believe indoor has prepared me well for this upcoming outdoor season. Go Cougs!"
 
NOTEWORTHY:

• This was Alissa Brooks-Johnson's first indoor All-America (second team) honor. In the outdoor season she earned first-team All-America honors in the heptathlon in 2017, and honorable mention in the heptathlon and the 400m hurdles in 2015.
• The United States Track & Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) bestows All-America honors in collegiate competitions. The first team honors are earned by those who finish in the top eight scoring position while the second eight in the indoor NCAA Championships earn second team honors.
• The WSU men's and women's track and field teams now move to the outdoor season with competitions in Los Angeles and Spokane March 16-17.