LEWISTON, Maine – Keene State College senior Molly Lu McKellar racked up 3,207 points to win the pentathlon event at the Bates College Invitational and Multi held inside Merrill Gymnasium on Friday night.

The Owl senior set a personal record with the point total, which included first place finishes in the 60-meter hurdles (9.25), high jump (1.55 meters), and shot put (9.80 meters).  She was second in the long jump (5.10 meters) and 800 meters (2:40.46), missing out on first in the jump by just two hundredths of a meter and first in the 800 by two seconds.  Nonetheless, she outdid sophomore Juno Rogers by 150 points to win the event and came within just 13 points of matching the event record at Bates set in 2006.

"I am really proud of Molly Lu tonight," said Keene State head coach Dan Roark.  "She is a fierce competitor.  She had to overcome some adversity and today she put together a performance that shows the competitor she is.  Currently fifth in the country in the event, and a great win."

The score surpassed her previous personal record of 3,194 points set at the New England Division III indoor championships last year when she placed sixth and is currently the fifth best in the country.  Olivia Bohlen of Central College currently has the best mark (3,534), followed by Eden Maranell (St. Norbert College) with 3,486 points, Jordan Murphy (University of Hartford) with 3,292 points, and Molly White (University of Scranton) with 3,279 points.

Last year, the final automatic qualifying mark for the indoor championship was 3,369 points.  The top 17 marks in the event at the NCAA championship all scored at least 3,300 – all marks well within reach for McKellar.

The Owls resume action tomorrow (Saturday, January 17) at the Panther Invitational hosted by Plymouth State University beginning at 10:00 a.m.