Hardee sets new collegiate decathlon record at Texas Relays
AUSTIN, Texas -- Powered by victories in eight of 10 decathlon events, University of Texas senior Trey Hardee (Birmingham, Ala.) set a new NCAA decathlon record Thursday on day two of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays at UT's Mike A. Myers Stadium. Hardee's score of 8,465 points topped the seven-year-old record score of 8,463 points set by Tennessee's Tom Pappas. His decathlon total is the highest in the world this year, and it elevates him to No. 8 on the all-time list of top U.S. decathletes. His score of 8,465 points marks the highest decathlon total ever recorded in the state of Texas and sets new school, facility and meet records. "(Setting the record) really wasn't on my mind coming into this weekend," Hardee said. "I just wanted to get my NCAA automatic-qualifying mark out of the way. As the events progressed and the day went on, I realized I had a shot at the record, and I got it." After totaling 4,399 points on day one of the decathlon, Hardee got off to a quick start on day two, clocking a personal-best time of 13.83, topping his previous top mark by one quarter of a second. The time eclipsed the decathlon 110-meter hurdle record time of 13.85 set by Rice's Ryan Harlan at the 2004 NCAA Championships in Austin. Hardee added his second victory in the next event, the discus, with a mark of 158-3. Hardee topped his personal best in the pole vault by four inches with a clearance of 17-0.75, tying teammate Donovan Kilmartin (Eagle, Idaho) for first place. Competing in his first javelin event of the season, Hardee added another personal best and his eighth victory of the meet, winning the javelin with a toss of 196-10. Entering the final event, the 1500 meters, with 7,940 points, Hardee needed 524 points to set the new collegiate decathlon record. He placed ninth at 5:06.73 for 522 points, initially leaving him one point shy of the collegiate record. However, a photo review of day one's 00-meter dash indicated Hardee completed the event in 10.35, rather than 10.36, thus, adding three points to Hardee's total, giving him the NCAA decathlon record. He also set the collegiate record in the heptathlon in January at the New Mexico Multi-Events Meet. "Any time a record is close to being broken, I always go back and verify the results," said meet official John Chaplin. "We re-read the photos from the running events. We found that in the 100 meters, Trey's time read 10.35. The pictures will be sent to USA Track and Field and the NCAA, and the records committee will give its final approval." Kilmartin took second in the decathlon with an impressive second day, totaling 7,897 points, topping his personal best by 168 points. He began day two with a personal-best time of 14.57 in the 110-meter hurdles for 902 points. He took seventh place in the discus with a mark of 127-6. Kilmartin added 972 points with a clearance of 17-0.75 in the pole vault before totaling 643 points in the javelin throw with a distance of 176-0. He completed the decathlon with a 1500-meter time of 4:59.20 for 564 points. "Trey laid out two collegiate records and then the national collegiate record in the decathlon, so this has been quite an event," said UT coach Bubba Thornton. "I give credit to (assistant coach) Mario Sategna, our multi-events coach. "We are really proud to have of Trey and Donovan and to have a national collegiate record set here at the Texas Relays," Thornton added. "It kind of says it all about Texas. It has been a great year for the whole school." Sophomore Hamza Deyaf (Richardson, Texas) qualified for Saturday's finals of the 400-meter hurdles with a ninth-place, NCAA regional-qualifying time of 51.56. Junior Alan Bean (Dalhart, Texas) took 25th in the preliminaries in 52.96. Three Longhorns placed in the top 10 in the 5000 meters. Junior Matt Munoz (Kingwood, Texas) took second in 14:43.96, while senior Jon Von Letscher (Austin, Texas) placed third in 14:50.96. Senior John Rainbolt (Sugarland, Texas) added a sixth-place showing in 15:07.12. For complete results and a schedule of the upcoming events, visit the section of TexasSports.com. 79th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays - Day Two Texas Results C - Collegiate Record; ! - personal best; # - NCAA regional mark; @ - NCAA automatic mark Decathlon - Final 110-Meter Hurdles (Dec.) Discus (Dec.) Pole Vault (Dec.) Javelin (Dec.) 1500 Meters (Dec.) 5000 Meters 400-Meter Hurdles (Prelims.) Hammer Throw
|
|
