Taliyah Brooks defends Multistars heptathlon title with exact score

BRESCIA, Italy – Arkansas alum Taliyah Brooks successfully defended her title in the Multistars heptathlon and equaled her career best of 6,330 points from her 2023 victory.

Competing in seven events and producing a set of results different from last season still generated the same exact score for Brooks, which is second best in the world for 2024 behind a 6,372 generated by American Michelle Atherley at the Mt. SAC Relays a couple of weeks ago.

Finishing behind Brooks in the 2024 version of the Multistars heptathlon held at the Sanpolino Sports Center this weekend were Kate O’Conner of Ireland with 6,104 points and Katelyn Adel of Switzerland at 6,082.

The Multistars event returned to its original site of Brescia for the first time in 30 years, where the first seven editions were held from 1988 to 1994. Last year the venue was in Desenzano del Garda.

Adverse weather conditions on the first day included brisk winds, cold temperatures, and rain.

Brooks led the field of 20 entries with 1,103 points in the 100m hurdles with a time of 13.14 seconds into a headwind of 2.3 mps. A high jump clearance of 5-9.75 (1.77) added 941 points and a shot put mark of 43-0.25 (13.11) picked up 735 points.

A time of 23.92 (-0.8) topped the field and scored 988 points as Brooks finished day 1 with 3,767 points.

Noting she felt primed for this heptathlon, Brooks indicated that with better conditions on the first day she may have been able to improve her score by 100 points in the hurdles and high jump.

Brooks started the second day of the heptathlon with a long jump that measured 21-4.75 (6.52) for 1,014 points to better the runner-up in the event by two inches. A javelin throw of 126-4 (38.53) added 639 points.

Finishing the heptathlon with the 800m, Brooks bettered her PR of 2:15.02 set in this meet last year with a 2:13.81 for 910 points.

In comparison to last year’s victory at the Multistars heptathlon, here are the marks and points Brooks produced in 2023.

2023: 13.23 (1,090), 1.77 (941), 13.01 (728), 24.06 (975), Day 1 score [3,734], 6.65 (1,056), 39.00 (648), 2:15.02 (892).

2024: 13.14 (1,103), 1.77 (941), 13.11 (735), 23.92 (988), Day 1 score [3,767], 6.52 (1,014), 38.53 (639), 2:13.81 (910).

Next up for Brooks is a heptathlon at Hypomeeting in Götzis, Austria, on the May 18-19 weekend followed by the U.S. Olympic Trials in June (23-24).