Hall becomes only third collegiate competitor to capture women’s heptathlon title, joining Williams and Joyner-Kersee; Scantling elevates to third in American history and No. 7 all-time in the world in decathlon, with Garland eclipsing 2017 NCAA mark to ascend to No. 8 among U.S. competitors

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Anna Hall had to visualize for the past 10 months not only her path to recovery, but also her road to redemption following surgery to repair a fractured navicular bone in July.

Garrett Scantling had to endure an uncertain past three weeks, hoping he would be able to overcome a partial tear in his oblique muscle in order to compete in the USATF Combined Events Championships.

And both former Georgia athletes once again demonstrated their resilience and perseverance to confirm Saturday they would be joining another pair of Bulldog all-time greats in Kyle Garland and Kendell Williams in representing the U.S. in July at the World Outdoor Championships.

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Scantling achieved a 220-point improvement on his winning total at last year’s Olympic Trials, elevating to No. 3 in American history and seventh all-time in the world by accumulating 8,867 points to repeat as national champion in the decathlon at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Ark.

Garland finished second with an improvement of more than 500 points from the Southeastern Conference Championships last year, producing the collegiate record with 8,720 points, ascending to No. 8 all-time among American decathletes and 16th in global history. He surpassed the absolute mark of 8,539 points achieved in 2017 by former Texas A&M standout Lindon Victor.

Zach Ziemek, a Wisconsin graduate, took third with 8,573 points, improving to 11th in American history and 40th all-time in the world. 

Hall, now representing Florida, prevailed in the women’s heptathlon with 6,458 points, elevating to No. 12 all-time in the U.S., completing her comeback from being injured in the 100-meter hurdles at last year’s Olympic Trials to secure her first national title at the senior level after capturing a pair of Under-20 championships in 2018 and 2019.

Hall, who also rose to the No. 2 competitor in collegiate history, capped her seven-event schedule by clocking 2:03.11 in the 800 meters, lowering her own American heptathlon record and improving to No. 4 all-time globally.

Hall, who improved from her 6,412-point performance March 23-24 at the 94th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays in Austin, became only the third collegiate athlete to win the U.S. national heptathlon title, joining Williams at Georgia in 2017 and Jackie Joyner-Kersee at UCLA in 1982.

Ashtin Mahler, a 2019 NCAA champion at Texas, finished second Saturday with 6,184 points and 2019 Division 1 indoor pentathlon winner Michelle Atherley of Miami took third in 6,154 points. Neither athlete was able to achieve the qualifying standard of 6,420 points.

Williams had already secured a berth to compete in July at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore., by winning the World Athletics Combined Events Tour last year. She completed four events Friday in Arkansas, accumulating 3,659 points before deciding not to compete Saturday.

Erica Bougard, who only produced a mark in the 100 hurdles and javelin throw, also has the qualifying standard by amassing 6,667 points at last year’s Olympic Trials. Annie Kunz, last year’s winner at the Olympic Trials with 6,703 points, did not participate at the meet after recovering from recent injury.

Hall held the first-day lead with 3,781 points, the best score through four events in collegiate history. She continued the momentum Saturday with a wind-legal best effort of 20-11.75 (6.39m) in the long jump and remained in front entering the 800 following a 126-1 (38.44m) performance in the javelin.

Garland also had the advantage at the midway point with the highest opening-day total by an NCAA competitor with 4,660 points. He maintained the advantage through seven events, before Scantling took the lead for good after clearing 16-10.75 (5.15m) in the pole vault, compared to Garland achieving a 15-11 (4.85m) clearance.

Scantling added to the lead with a 220-4 (67.16m) effort in the javelin throw and Garland produced a mark of 195-7 (57.63m). Garland secured the collegiate record with a 4:43.21 performance in the 1,500 meters.

Cheyenne Williamson of Saginaw Valley State, the reigning NCAA Division 2 champion, placed eighth with 5,427 points.

Taliyah Brooks, the 2018 Division 1 indoor pentathlon champion at Arkansas, aggravated a right ankle injury in the long jump and didn’t record a mark after entering the event in fourth place overall. She finished ninth with 4,219 points.