Eaton Sets National Lead in the Decathlon
EUGENE, Ore. -- Ashton Eaton recorded the top decathlon score in the NCAA this season, while Kalindra McFadden set a personal best in the heptathlon that ranked fourth nationally Friday at the combined events of the Oregon Relays, presented by Oregon Community Credit Union, at Historic Hayward Field.
Eaton, the defending NCAA decathlon and indoor heptathlon champion, scored 8,023 points. It was the third straight decathlon of 8,000 points or better, going back to the NCAA Championships last June (8,055) and the U.S. Olympic Trials (8,122).
The junior from Bend, Ore., opened the day by setting a personal best in the 110 hurdles, running 14.08. He also neared PR’s in the discus (125-7) and javelin (176-2), in addition to counting marks of 14-11 in the pole vault and 4:28.93 in the 1,500 meters.
"People are beginning to realize what we are doing as a team and they are seeing where we are going," said Eaton. "That is because the top athletes here at Oregon are taking the rest of the team with them and everyone is jumping on the success train."
Oregon’s Marshall Ackley set a personal best by scoring 6,933 points to record and NCAA provisional qualifying mark. The junior from Nyssa, Ore., won the 1,500 meters in 4:26.78 to earn his first career provisional mark.
In the heptathlon, McFadden tallied the third-best score in school history with 5,582 points, a personal record by 154 points. She easily met the NCAA Championships automatic standard of 5,500 points.
The redshirt senior from Bozeman, Mont., opened the day with a three-inch PR in the long jump, hitting the sand at 18 feet, 10.75 inches.
"I opened with a personal record in the long jump and it carried over into the rest of the day," said McFadden. "This is exciting because I have been waiting three years for a new personal record and it feels good to finally put this together on my home track.
"It’s nice because the things that I have been doing for the past three years are finally clicking now."
McFadden also neared PR’s in the javelin, throwing 126-8 and the 800 meters (2:15.14).
Her score currently ranks second in the Pac-10, behind teammate Brianne Theisen’s 5,643, and fourth nationally.
Oregon’s Erin Funkhouser finished second in a personal-best 4,858 points.
The first full day of the Oregon Relays is currently underway. Featured events will begin at 4 p.m. Friday afternoon. The meet continues at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
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