March 12, 2011

COLLEGE STATION, Tex. - Romain Martin used a strong final day to finish third in the heptathlon Saturday at the NCAA Championships.

Martin's third-place finish at College Station marks the best indoor finish a UTA male has earned since Elston Cawley placed third in the 200m in 1998. He was also the first UTA male to qualify for the NCAA Championships in any multiple-events competition.

Martin, who started the day seventh, jumped to sixth after clocking an 8.19 in the 60m hurdles. He followed that with a personal-best mark of 4.90 meters in the pole vault, moving into third place.

He finished the day with a 2:42.99 in the 1000m, earning him his final spot of third and setting a new personal-best overall score of 5897.

The LeMans, France native's score currently ranks third in France in the indoor heptathlon and ranks seventh all-time. He is also ranked No. 13 in all of Europe with his score.

"Romain turned in one of the best performances I have ever seen from a UTA track athlete," UTA coach John Sauerhage said. "He either tied or bettered a personal best in every event. That's awesome under the pressure of an NCAA Championship. We're excited and we expect plenty more from Romain in outdoor because he's even better in the decathlon. Brandon Berger did an outstanding job with him as his coach."