Former Wisconsin star, NCAA champion holds off American Hawkins in 800 to win both crowns in Ottawa

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Four heptathlons. Four months. Four championships.

Wisconsin graduate and rising Canadian star Georgia Ellenwood capped her impressive season Wednesday by winning the heptathlon title with 6,026 points at the Pan American Combined Events Cup at Terry Fox Athletic Facility in Ottawa.

The competition also served as the Canadian Combined Events Championship, giving Ellenwood her first senior national title, to go along with Big Ten Conference and NCAA Division 1 Outdoor crowns.

ELLENWOOD INTERVIEW | LIVE WEBCAST | COMBINED EVENTS VIDEOS

“It’s exactly what I wanted. I just wanted the win,” Ellenwood said. “I had two really good scores at the Big Ten Championships and NCAAs, so to come here and just represent Canada and hopefully go for the win was my goal in this competition, so I’m happy with it.”

Ellenwood trailed American Chari Hawkins, a former Utah State standout, through the first five events, before a third-round throw of 138-7 (42.25m) in the javelin helped her finally gain the advantage entering the 800.

Ellenwood led by a 5,143 to 5,139 margin, requiring her only to finish ahead of Hawkins in the 800 to secure the title.

Canadian Dallyssa Huggins, a Maryland sophomore, won the 800 in 2:14.67, with Ellenwood placing second in 2:15.66 and Hawkins fourth in 2:16.98 to finish with 6,004 points.

“Through each event, I was right there with Chari,” Ellenwood said. “Going into the 800, I knew I had to run a good race and that’s when I get the most nervous. I know I have it in me, it’s just executing that. I was really happy and grateful I was able to do that and have a little kick at the end.”

It marked the first time in Pan American Combined Events Cup history that two female athletes accumulated more than 6,000 points in the same heptathlon competition, with Ellenwood producing the highest score by a Canadian and the fourth-best total overall. Canadian Niki Oudenaarden, last year’s champion, finished third with 5,833 points.

“It definitely wasn’t the best heptathlon of my life, but it’s been a long season and I’ve had a few minor injuries that I’ve been dealing with,” Ellenwood said. “To come out here and still score over 6,000 points and win the title, it gives me a lot of confidence going into next year.”

Ellenwood produced a personal-best 6,173 points – ranking her No. 13 in the world this year – to win the Big Ten title May 11-12 in Bloomington, Ind., then followed it up June 8-9 with 6,146 points to capture her first NCAA championship in Eugene, Ore.

Hawkins, who lives and trains in Great Britain, achieved her personal-best 6,137 on May 26-27 in Bedford, England.