”FREIGHTTRAIN” is the monicker that appears between Kyle Garland’s first and last names on his Instagram account, and he rolled like few ever have in the decathlon with a score of 8869, a PR by 149 points and the second-highest in meet history.
It also made the 25-year-old No. 3 in U.S. history behind WR setters Ashton Eaton and Dan O’Brien, both of whom own gold medals from the Olympics and WC.
From the start, Garland seemed destined for victory unless he became derailed — à la last year when he broke his foot in vault warmups at the Olympic Trials while in contention for a team spot.
Heath Baldwin (8407) and Harrison Williams (8223) were far off their best scores here but outlasted the rest of the contenders, who dealt with a variety of mishaps.
Here’s how it went down.
100 Meters: Peyton Bair — the NCAA champ for Mississippi State now transferring to Oregon — wasn’t as fast as his DCR 10.25 in June but was able to edge Garland, 10.41–10.44. Garland shaved 0.06 off his previous PR, set in May at Götzis. Looking solid were the two oldest in 32-year-olds Zach Ziemek (10.69) and Garrett Scantling (10.86), the latter coming off a doping suspension a month earlier.
Long Jump: Garland was more than a foot better than anyone else, leaping an outdoor PR 25-10¾ (7.89). Hakim McMorris was next at 24-9¼ (7.55) as few other contenders were even close to their PRs.
Shot: Garland PRed twice, ultimately to 55-7½ (16.95) to lead everyone by more than 4ft. His projection seemed insane at 8804, but it would go higher on Day 2. Ziemek (51-¾/15.56) and Williams (50-8¾/15.46) were closest, while Baldwin — whose PR is 54-2½ (16.52) — went just 49-11 (15.21). Tokyo Olympic 4th-placer Scantling, the USA champ in ’21 and ’22, was a DNS.
High Jump: No PR here for Garland, but he tied Baldwin for highest at 7-¼ (2.14). Ziemek cleared 6-9¾ (2.08) with no misses but could go no higher; he was in 2nd overall, 352 points behind Garland. Williams did 6-5 (1.96).
400 Meters: Baldwin won the first section in a PR 48.39 as Garland was 3rd in 49.29. While Garland’s time seemed slow compared to his PR 47.78 from ’23, it brought his Day 1 total to 4714, a Hayward Field Record in becoming just the third American to go over 4700 (following O’Brien and Eaton). Garland’s lead was at 337 points (over Baldwin).
Bair was fastest, winning the second section in a MR 46.25, followed by McMorris at 46.44 as he moved into 2nd overall and joining contention for a team spot. McMorris, however, was later DQed for a lane violation. Austin West (46.90) and Williams (47.06) were next as West ended Day 1 in 3rd, dropping Ziemek (49.73) to 4th.
110 Hurdles: Garland was tops again, one of two running sub-14 at 13.78 (close to the 13.71 in his PR 8720 from ’22). His lead grew to 375 over Baldwin, who ran 14.07 in the same race. Ziemek moved back into 3rd after clocking 14.48, just 0.01 off what he ran in his 8676 PR while earning bronze at the ’22 World Champs. Williams continued in 6th after a 14.73.
Discus: Garland had shown great improvement in this event at Götzis with his two longest throws, but he twice surpassed those here with a top heave of 167-1 (50.93) that led the field. His projection climbed to 8864 and his lead grew to 496 over Baldwin, who PRed at 148-0 (45.11). Williams threw 152-5 (46.47) to move up to 5th. Ziemek remained in 3rd overall but was notably down at 143-1 (43.61); his PR is 169-5 (51.64). West moved into 4th after a near-PR 145-7 (44.37). Bair PRed at 137-2 (41.81), but this would be his last event.
Pole Vault: Leading the way was McMorris, who gamely continued after his 400 DQ and PRed at 16-8¾ (5.10). Williams was next at 16-4¾ (5.00), moving to 3rd — partly due to the withdrawal of Ziemek. Garland’s lead grew to 526 after a solid clearance of 15-9 (4.80). Baldwin and West remained in 2nd and 4th.
Javelin: Garland was strong again as he launched the two farthest throws of his career, both over 200ft and 60m with the best at 214-11 (65.52). His lead ballooned to 583 over Baldwin, who has a better PR at 233-0 (71.02) but managed only 202-6 (61.72) here. West was second-best at 212-6 (64.77) and got within 39 of Williams, as close as he would get to making this U.S. team.
1500 Meters: With the top-3 of Garland, Baldwin and Williams virtually locked in, the biggest question was how high could Garland score. A total as high as 8945 was possible using his 1500 PR of 4:41.91, but Garland ran just 4:54.20 to end up at 8869.
How did Garland view this 10-eventer? “I think it might set in tomorrow, maybe,” he said. “It’s incredible. But I mean at the end of the day, I knew it was coming. So I’m excited to see the training finally pay off.”
MEN’S DECATHLON RESULTS
(July 31–August 01)
1. Kyle Garland (Nik) 8869 PR (10, x W; 3, =5 A)
(10.44, 25-10¾/7.89, 55-7½/16.95, 7-¼/2.14, 49.29 [4714-1], 13.78, 167-1/50.93, 15-9/4.80, 214-11/65.52, 4:54.50 [4155]);
2. Heath Baldwin (Nik) 8407
(10.94, 23-10/7.26, 49-11/15.21, 7-¼/2.14, 48.39 [4377-2], 14.07, 148-0/45.11, 15-5/4.70, 202-6/61.72, 4:34.88 [4030]);
3. Harrison Williams (Nik) 8223
(10.76, 22-9¼/6.94, 50-8¾/15.46, 6-5/1.96, 47.06 [4254-6], 14.73, 152-5/46.47, 16-4¾/5.00, 176-0/53.66, 4:31.22 [3969]);
4. Austin West (unat) 8162
(10.74, 24-7¼/7.50, 46-7½/14.21, 6-6¼/1.99, 46.90 [4352-3], 14.93, 145-7/44.37, 13-9¼/4.20, 212-6/64.77, 4:34.62 [3810]);
5. Marcus Weaver (Ar) 7831
(11.35, 22-1¾/6.75, 46-6¼/14.18, 6-9¾/2.08, 50.37 [3954-9], 14.68, 146-2/44.56, 14-1¼/4.30, 211-6/64.46, 4:33.30 [3877]);
6. Bradley Thomas (UCSB) 7742
(11.03, 22-7/6.88, 44-4/13.51, 6-4/1.93, 48.47 [3963-8], 15.37, 142-3/43.36, 13-9¼/4.20, 210-4/64.11, 4:26.46 [3779]);
7. Carter Morton (unat) 7679;8. Lee Walburn (unat) 7525; 9. Kyle Sieracki (unat) 7472; 10. Hakim McMorris (VSA) 7046;
11. Hunter Jones (PittSt) 6616;
… dnfs—Peyton Bair (MsSt) (10.41, 22-10½/6.97, 43-½/13.12, 6-6¼/1.99, 46.25 [4268-5], 14.14, 137-2/41.81 [1658]);
Zach Ziemek (unat) (10.69, 23-10¾/7.28, 51-¾/15.56, 6-9¾/2.08, 49.73 [4341-4], 14.48, 143-1/43.61 [1651]);
Garrett Scantling (unat) (10.86, 22-6¼/6.86 [1673-10]);
Jack Flood (unat); Denim Rogers (unat); Lindon Victor’ (Grn–guest).
