ISU athlete wins women’s heptathlon at Drake Relays

Iowa State’s Barbara Slendakova pulled away early in the final event, the 800-meters to claim the Drake Relays heptathalon title this afternoon.Slendakova says she knew she could clinch the event with a solid run in the 800.Slendakova overcame a sup-par performance in the opening event of the second day, the long jump. She had two scratches on her first two jumps and said she had a poor jump out of fear of not scoring at all in the event.Two-time defending champion Melanie Welty was in fifth place before withdrawing midway through the second round with a sore knee.