Eaton breaks decathlon world mark at US trials
Source: Agencies |
June 25, 2012, Monday
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Print Edition
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ASHTON Eaton set a glittering decathlon world record at the US Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, on Saturday, riding the cheers of a thrilled home crowd to upstage a stellar cast of athletes.
The 24-year-old's total of 9,039 points in wet and cold conditions bettered the 2001 mark of Czech great Roman Sebrle by 13 points and capped an extraordinary meeting for the American, who had already set decathlon records for the 100 meters and long jump legs on Friday.
"It's like living an entire lifetime in two days," Eaton said after capturing the record on his own training track. "To do the best that I possibly could in my world makes me pretty happy. I really, really would never pick another event. The decathlon is the best."
The world silver medalist will head to London in a powerful decathlon duo with runner-up and world champion Trey Hardee, but Olympic champion Bryan Clay's hopes of defending his title were shattered.
Clay found trouble in the 110 meters hurdles and discus legs of the 10-event competition to finish 12th.
Eaton fell two seconds off world record pace with a lap to go in the closing 1,500 meters, but was lifted by a cheering crowd in his home town to a personal best of four minutes 14.48 seconds to secure the mark.
"I don't care what anyone says, there is magic here," he said of the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. Eaton had targeted the world record but "figured it would be when I was 28 in 2016," he said. "So four years early."
The 24-year-old's total of 9,039 points in wet and cold conditions bettered the 2001 mark of Czech great Roman Sebrle by 13 points and capped an extraordinary meeting for the American, who had already set decathlon records for the 100 meters and long jump legs on Friday.
"It's like living an entire lifetime in two days," Eaton said after capturing the record on his own training track. "To do the best that I possibly could in my world makes me pretty happy. I really, really would never pick another event. The decathlon is the best."
The world silver medalist will head to London in a powerful decathlon duo with runner-up and world champion Trey Hardee, but Olympic champion Bryan Clay's hopes of defending his title were shattered.
Clay found trouble in the 110 meters hurdles and discus legs of the 10-event competition to finish 12th.
Eaton fell two seconds off world record pace with a lap to go in the closing 1,500 meters, but was lifted by a cheering crowd in his home town to a personal best of four minutes 14.48 seconds to secure the mark.
"I don't care what anyone says, there is magic here," he said of the University of Oregon's Hayward Field. Eaton had targeted the world record but "figured it would be when I was 28 in 2016," he said. "So four years early."
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