A WIDE-OPEN FIELD generated the third-closest decathlon in meet history as BYU’s Ben Barton edged Louisville’s Kenneth Byrd by 9 points, 8169–8160. Both set PR scores.
It was the first win in the event for BYU since Tito Steiner won the third of his titles in 1981.
100: Barton was the fastest at 10.65, though down from the 10.57 he clocked in his PR 7998 at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Among those PRing were Byrd (10.79) and Jip de Greef of Illinois (10.78, though not faster than the 10.75w he ran in his 8039w list-leading score).
Long Jump: Duke’s Maxwell Forte led the way at 25-2¾ (7.60) while Barton moved into 2nd overall with an outdoor PR 24-3½ (7.40). While Byrd didn’t PR, his 23-11½ (7.30) moved him ahead of PR score pace as he was in 5th (1794 as Forte led Barton, 1901–1850).
Shot: Luuk Pelkmans, a frosh and fellow Dutch teammate of de Greef who scored 8004 earlier this year, was tops here in twice raising his outdoor PR — 51-1 (15.57). Miami’s Edgar Campre was next while taking the overall lead at 2624 after an outdoor PR 50-6¾ (15.41). Byrd also twice raised his outdoor best — 44-10¾ (13.68) — while Barton was solid at 44-¾ (13.43) to lead Byrd by 40 points, 2543–2503, as they sat in 3rd and 5th.
High Jump: Barton and Byrd were at their best in clearing 6-11¾ (2.13) to lead the event. For Barton it was a PR while Byrd tied his as the Cougar remained up by 40 points, 3468–3428, now 1-2 overall and both on 8000-plus PR pace.
400: Barton was fastest at 47.25 while Byrd ran 49.72 — neither PRing but solid. Barton’s lead grew to 158 points, 4414–4256. The event saw a major casualty in de Greef, who ran a would-be PR 48.56 but was DQed for a lane violation.
110 Hurdles: Barton was tied for second-fastest at 14.20 — off his 14.10 PR but solid – while Byrd PRed at 14.44 as Barton’s lead over Byrd grew to 189 points, 5363–5174.
Discus: Byrd provided some unintended drama, fouling his first and having a second that measured just over 20 feet. He recovered for a third throw of 138-10 (42.33) to avoid disaster, but that was short of the 145-6 (44.35) PR from his best score. Meanwhile, Barton PRed at 138-3 (42.15) as his lead over Byrd dropped by 4 points to 185, 6071–5886.
Pole Vault: As expected, the pendulum swung in Byrd’s favor after a clearance of 17-9 (5.41), his best in a decathlon but lower than his 18-3¼ (5.57i) PR. He missed thrice at 18-1 (5.51), which would have given him a decCR as well as 32 additional points. Barton cleared 14-1¾ (4.31), one bar shy of his dec best 14-5½ (4.41). Byrd was 334 points better to take the overall lead by 149 points over Barton, 6925–6776.
Javelin: Barton closed the gap with a nearly 8-foot PR at 180-11 (55.15) as Byrd hit 159-1 (48.48). With this result, Byrd’s lead over Barton shrunk to 50 points, 7491–7441.
1500: That 50-point differential equated to about 7 seconds in the 1500, where Barton owns a PR more than 10 seconds faster (4:33.76 to 4:44.32). Both PRed here, with Barton getting his with a much stronger last lap after leading by just 3.5 seconds with a lap to go (69.74 to Byrd’s 75.35) to claim the title.
“Coach Hogan put me in a really good spot to take the title today,” Barton said, referring to Tiffany (Lott) Hogan, a 2-time NCAA heptathlon champ in 1997–98. “I made a few mistakes in some areas but was able to make up for it in others and ultimately win it.”
MEN’S DECATHLON RESULTS
(June 10–11)
1. Ben Barton (BYU) 8169 PR
(10.65, 24-3½/7.40, 44-¾/13.43, 6-11¾/2.13, 47.25 [4414],14.20, 138-3/42.15, 14-1¾/4.31, 180-11/55.15, 4:32.61 [3755]);
2. **Kenneth Byrd (Louis) 8160 PR
(10.79, 23-11½/7.30, 44-10¾/13.68, 6-11¾/2.13, 49.72 [4256],14.44, 138-10/42.33, 17-9/5.41, 159-1/48.48, 4:41.73 [3904]);
3. ***Luuk Pelkmans’ (Il-Neth) 8079 PR
(11.17, 23-9½/7.25, 51-1/15.57, 6-8¼/2.04, 49.12 [4218],14.69, 125-10/38.36, 15-9¼/4.81, 189-0/57.60, 4:23.32 [3861]);
4. Ryan Gregory (LBSt) 8001 PR
(10.77, 23-7½/7.20, 40-5½/12.33, 6-4¾/1.95, 49.25 [4007],14.45, 141-2/43.02, 15-9¼/4.81, 183-8/55.98, 4:18.57 [3994]);
5. Emil Uhlin’ (KsSt-Swe) 7976 PR
(11.04, 21-10¼/6.66, 45-5¾/13.86, 6-8¼/2.04, 48.96 [4009],14.70, 152-9/46.56, 15-9¼/4.81, 171-0/52.13, 4:20.20 [3967]);
6. Carter Morton (NnIa) 7972 PR
(11.18, 24-4¼/7.42, 44-10¾/13.68, 6-10¾/2.10, 49.87 [4162],14.71, 122-0/37.20, 16-1¼/4.91, 195-2/59.49, 4:36.28 [3810]);
7. Edgar Campre’ (Mia-Por) 7870
(10.69, 23-10¼/7.27, 50-6¾/15.41, 6-1¼/1.86, 49.77 [4128],14.46, 146-8/44.71, 15-5½/4.71, 179-6/54.72, 4:55.75 [3742]);
8. *Joshua Mooney (Ct) 7869
(10.91, 22-2¼/6.76, 43-2¼/13.16, 6-2¼/1.89, 49.74 [3847],14.20, 147-8/45.00, 16-1¼/4.91, 197-0/60.04, 4:39.30 [4022]);
9. Cole Wilson’ (HPt-Can) 7855 PR; 10. ***Dorian Charles’ (KsSt-Tri) 7764 NR; 11. **Maximus Tucker’ (Ga-Can) 7727; 12. Michael Bennett (Duke) 7494; 13. Steven Schmidt (OkSt) 7479; 14. Zach McGlynn (NDSt) 7430); 15. *Blake Harris (TxAM) 7407); 16. *Easton Hammond (TxSt) 7360; 17. Keith Orona (CSF) 7270); 18. *Paul Olson (NDSt) 7185; 19. *Seth Johnson (Cal) 6643; 20. John Swabik (Ks) 6587; 21. Maxwell Forte (Duke) 5921;
… dnf—*Andreas Hantson’ (Il-Est) 5486, *Jip De Greef’ (Il-Neth), ***Tomeko Cates (Wa) 3206.
Decathlon Top 5 Leaders By Event
100: 1. Barton 940; 2. Campre 931; 3. Forte 919; 4. Gregory 912; 5. De Greef 910; 6. Byrd 908;… 18. Pelkmans 11.17
LJ: 1. Forte 1901; 2. Barton 1850; 3. Campre 1809; 4. Cates 1795; 5. Byrd 1794;… 9. Pelkmans 1697.
SP: 1. Campre 2624; 2. Forte 2602; 3. Barton 2543; 4. Pelkmans 2522; 5. Byrd 2503
HJ: 1. Barton 3468; 2. Byrd 3428; 3. Pelkmans 3362
400: 1. Barton 4414; 2. Forte 4276; 3. Byrd 4256; 4. Pelkmans 4218; 5. Tucker 4204
110H: 1. Barton 5363; 2. Byrd 5174; 3. Pelkmans 5105; 4. Morton 5047; 5. Campre 5044
DT: 1. Barton 6071; 2. Byrd 5886; 3. Campre 5805; 4. Pelkmans 5736; 5. Uhlin 5694
PV: 1. Byrd 6925; 2. Barton 6776; 3. Campre 6627; 4. Pelkmans 6588; 5. Uhlin 6546
JT: 1. Byrd 7491; 2. Barton 7441; 3. Pelkmans 7290; 4. Campre 7286; 5. Morton 7268
