Minnesota senior All-American Brock Spandl matched a career best in the pole vault, clearing 17 feet, 3 inches, to leap to the top of the standings of the heptathlon at Iowa State’s Bill Bergan Invitational in Ames, Iowa, on Friday. Spandl won his first career heptathlon competition with a career-high tally of 6,645 points, the fourth-best mark in Golden Gopher history. First-day leader, Gopher senior Joey Schwecke finished third also scoring a career-best with 5,551 points, the eighth-highest heptathlon score in school history.

Spandl was in fifth place after day one and began his upward climb by topping the field in the 60-meter high hurdles with a time of 8.32. Schwecke clocked a time of 8.76 seconds.

Spandl trailed Schwecke by 100 points heading into his marquee event, the pole vault. Spandl outscored his top competitors in the field by 184 points with his leap of 17-3, which equals his previous height that ranks eighth in school history. Schwecke cleared 14-11 1/2 in the event.

Spandl took a 73-point lead into the heptathlon’s final event, the 1,000 meters. He was easily able to stay with the pack and notch a solid time of 2:46.25, losing just five points off his lead over runner-up Lars Rise of Missouri. Schwecke completed his heptathlon with a time of 2:47.92.

The meet continues on Saturday with a full schedule of open events.