With most of the Kent State track and field team focused on the Penn Relays in Philadelphia, sophomore Diana Dumitrescu has already stolen the spotlight in Des Moines, Iowa, by breaking her own school record in the women’s heptathlon at the Drake Relays.

Dumitrescu finished in second place Wednesday with 5,518 points, 89 more than the school record she set as a freshman last year. Her score is the fifth-best total in the nation so far this season and the fourth-best in conference history.

“We really came out here with one mission, for Diana to qualify for the NCAA East Region Meet,” head coach Bill Lawson said. “She did that and more by breaking the school record.”

In the process, Dumitrescu set personal records in two of the seven events. She won the shot put with her throw of 43’-10.75” and finished third in the 200-meter dash in 25.15 seconds. With 15 heptathletes competing, she earned fifth place or better in each event.

“It is the most consistent combined event she has put together in her career,” Lawson said. “She had a very strong hurdle race and a good high jump.”

Sophomore Kim Preston and freshman Domenica Rossi will compete in the women’s pole vault today to conclude Kent State’s participation at Drake University.

Meanwhile, several others from the women’s team began competition at the Penn Relays yesterday.

Senior Brenda Baar took sixth place in the long jump by leaping 19’-7.5”, junior Bekah Stoltz earned seventh in the discus by throwing 149’-7” and freshman Sara Oczypok finished 12th in the javelin with her 131’-8” throw.

Two more women are scheduled to compete today, with senior Brittni Borrero in the discus and freshman Keri Dantley in the triple jump. The men will also enter competition with freshman Kenneth Agee in the long jump and with teams entered for the 4×400-meter relay and the sprint and distance medleys.

Contact sports reporter Jody Michael at [email protected].