“Obviously it’s disappointing to not have a great first event, but the key is to look at the whole thing as one event and not get too up or too down,” Tolbert said. “If you get too up after one [event] you can’t focus on the next one, and if you get too down you can’t focus, so the key is to maintain kind of a neutral focus."

Hansen also had a strong performance in the 800-meter run, which she completed in 2 minutes, 17 seconds. Her mark was good enough for second place, just behind Therese Jernbeck of LSU.

Since it was the last event and Metoyer, Hansen’s closest competitor, crossed the line sixth, Hansen was able to capture the overall title with her second-place finish in the 800.

“The 800 was something we’ve been talking about for a while—about having the potential there to do very well,” Tolbert said. “It finally came together.”

Hansen also took third in the shot put with a throw of 11.43 meters. She placed fourth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.04 seconds, and took third position in the javelin with a throw of 32.20 meters. She also had a collegiate personal best that earned her third in the long jump with a distance of 5.62 meters.

When she’s not competing in the heptathlon, Hansen competes in individual events such as the 100-meter hurdles and the sprint medley relay. Along with teammates Christi Scott, Gabrielle Scott, and Molly Renfer, she was a member of the record-setting medley relay team that finished in a time of 3:41.85 at the Florida Relays on Apr. 5th.

She will compete in the heptathlon next at the Ivy League Championships on May 10th and 11th.

—Staff writer Theresa C. Hebert can be reached at thebert@college.harvard.edu.