2 American records fall at USATF indoor masters hep nationals

UCSD coach Mike Kuoppamaki on Facebook.

Two years after setting an M40 American record in the indoor heptathlon, Jeferson Souza of Miami upped it over the weekend with a score of 5055 — 45 above his listed AR. He can credit competition from Mike Kuoppamaki, a San Diego coach and chiropractor with solid all-time PRs, including 7451 in the decathlon. Mike scored an amazing 5253 points to win M40 at the first masters track nationals of the year — in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Joining Mike in the record books is Erika Pierce of Charlottesville, Virginia, who scored 4663 points to demolish the listed W45 AR of 3726 by Rebecca Connolly. (No world records are kept. WMA doesn’t contest the hep at worlds. Just the pentathlon.) Jeff Watry hosted the meet again at Carthage College. (He competed as well, taking third in M60.) Rebecca was the only woman to finish the two-day event. Four others were entered. Day 1 has 60 meters, long jump, shot put and high jump. Day 2 has 60 hurdles, pole vault and 1000 meters. See men’s results, and see women’s results.

Mike coaches vault at UC San Diego, where we learn:

Mike Kuoppamaki begins his seventh year as pole vault coach for the UC San Diego track and field program in 2016. Kuoppamaki adds a wealth of experience to the Triton staff, having coached in the college ranks since 1999 at UC Davis and then Idaho State.

He has worked with two individual national champions, as well as several CCAA Champions and National All-Americans. In addition, he has sent two athletes to the Olympic trials.

In his first year with the program in 2010, he coached Donna LeFever, who set the school record in the pole vault with an impressive mark of 12’6″. LeFever went on to finish sixth (12’2.75″) at the NCAA Championships in Charlotte, N.C., becoming the first Triton to earn All-American accolades in the vault on the women’s side.

Kuoppamaki graduated from UC Davis with a bachelor degree in Neuro Physiology and Behavior in 1998. He placed fourth at the NCAA National Championships in the decathlon while competing for the Aggies and then went on to place 13th at the U.S. Nationals in 2003. Kuoppamaki received his Doctorates of Chiropractic in 2008 and now works in San Diego.

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January 31, 2017

5 Responses

  1. Jeff Davison - January 31, 2017

    Congrads to the winners

  2. Bill Murray - January 31, 2017

    Rebecca Connolly’s previous W45 AR that Erica beat was 4196 not 3726.

  3. Ken Stone - January 31, 2017

    Thanks, Bill.

    It would be nice if USATF record page listed the correct record:
    http://www.usatf.org/statistics/records/byEvent.asp?division=american&location=indoor%20track%20%26%20field&age=masters&eventName=heptathlon

  4. Becky Connolly - February 6, 2017

    I love this meet and so sorry I could not attend this year. Congrats to Erika for “demolishing” my record. No offense taken, as others have implied. We are all out there just doing our best. Erika is an amazing athlete and a wonderful person. I am happy for her and grateful when I can be on the track with her.

  5. Peter L. Taylor - February 7, 2017

    Becky, I second your comments about Erika Pierce: I’ve always enjoyed announcing her and found her to be a very pleasant person indeed. I’m just sorry that she won’t be at the big meet next week in New Mexico.

    The good thing, Becky, is that you, Rachel Guest, and some other “hard hitters” will be competing in the pentathlon at nationals. I hope that whoever announces your events will treat you well (there will be two announcers at nationals).

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