University of Oregon
Texas Relays
Record Blown Away at Texas Relays
04/01/10 | Track and Field
AUSTIN, Texas -- For the second time in his career, Ashton Eaton surpassed the University of Oregon's all-time decathlon record. And for the second time in his career, the score will not go in the record books as strong winds pushed his second day mark well beyond the legal wind limit of 4.0 meters per second.
Still, that did little to diminish the impressive performances of the defending NCAA champions as both Eaton and Brianne Theisen won their respective combined events Thursday at the Texas Relays.
In the decathlon, Eaton scored 8,310 points to win easily over Michael Morrison of California, who scored 7,557. According to Garry Hill of Track & Field News, it was the fourth-best decathlon score, all conditions, ever by a collegian.
Eaton began the day by matching his personal best in the 110 meter hurdles, running 13.85 seconds to win. That time came with a plus 4.9 tailwind, which was unfortunately 0.9 above the allowable threshold for combined events records.
The senior from Bend, Ore., then set another PR in the discus, throwing 143-5 to finish second in the event.
He cleared 15-1 to tie for fourth in the pole vault, and then neared a PR in the javelin, with a throw of 171-3.
Eaton cruised to the victory with a fourth-place finish in the 1,500 meters in 4:41.43.
Thursday marked the second time Eaton had surpassed the existing school record, 8,176 points by Pedro daSilva in 1992, only to have his score negated by high winds. Eaton scored 8,241 points in winning the 2009 NCAA title, but a wind of plus-4.1 mps in the 100 meters kept him from claiming the record.
On the plus side, Eaton beat his previous PR by 69 points and has now scored 8,000 points in eight straight decathlons, dating to the 2008 NCAA Championships.
Theisen won the heptathlon Thursday, scoring 5,942 points.
Angelo State's Aisha Adams finished second with 5,795 points.
The defending Canadian national champion placed third in the long jump with a wind-aided mark of 19-3.25.
The junior from Humboldt, Sask., also won the javelin with a throw of 129-1 and wrapped up the day by winning the 800 meters in 2:19.78.
She was less that 100 points off her own personal and school record of 6,086 points, set in winning the 2009 NCAA heptathlon title.
Also in the decathlon, Marshall Ackley had a strong second day to finish seventh with 7,074 points.
The senior from Nyssa, Ore., set a PR in the javelin with a throw of 127-0 and was just shy of a PR in the javelin with a throw of 170-5.
Ackley finished his day two rally with a second-place run in the 1,500 meters in 4:35.78.
- www.GoDucks.com -
Players Mentioned
