April 14, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo.--What was yesterday a fairy-tale idea became a reality Friday at the Audrey Walton Combined Events in Columbia, Mo. Missouri senior Hans Uldal scored 8,018 points in winning the men's decathlon, breaking his own school record by over 250 points enroute to earning an IAAF World Championship `A' standard for the 2007 meet in Osaka, Japan. Uldal has the third-best score in the World to begin the early 2006 season, and is also second on the NCAA Division I list.
After a day one score of 3,996, the 8,000 score looked to be in reach, but, it wouldn't be easy. Temperatures for the second-straight day crept to near 90 degrees, but all competitors were helped by a good southerly breeze (10-15 mph). Uldal ran a 14.81 in the 110-meter hurdles and was aided by a 4.7 mps wind. Uldal's wind average totaled 3.1 mps for all straight-line races, within the allowable.
In the discus, Uldal marked a modest 152-9 (46.56m). Uldal followed with a remarkable pole vault performance. He flew over the bar at 16-2¾ (4.95m) to improve his personal best by nearly six inches.
Even after a pole vault that lasted 2½ hours, Uldal proceeded to the javelin. After two frustrating throws, he was able to top the 200-foot, chucking to 200-8 (61.17m). The goal became 4:39.8 in the 1500-meter to reach 8,000. Coming in with a PR of 4:37.9, and after a long, hot day, it seemed probable, but very difficult. He ran his first 800 in 2:27, and was able to finish stronger than ever, bettering his previous best with a 4:36.84 clocking.
"I was pretty happy to get over 8,000," said Uldal. "My goal coming into the year was to score 8,000 points, not to do in this meet. But, the conditions were just right, and I felt good the whole way. I was nervous (entering the 1500), but I felt if I just stayed consistent, as I had all weekend; I would be able to do it. This is really a thrill, and I think I am ready to have a really good season."
Only 19 people in the World in 2005 scored above 8,000 points.
Only Texas' Trey Hardee has scored more that Uldal in the collegiate ranks this season. Hardee scored 8,465 points last weekend at the Texas Relays to capture a new collegiate record. With the Big 12 Championships in Waco, Texas, coming in mid-May, that will once again be quite a battle between Hardee, Uldal, and Texas' Donovan Kilmartin.
Former K-State Wildcat Darius Draudvila placed second with a new personal-best score of 7,886 points. Tiger post-collegian Knut Sommerfeldt bettered his personal best in the event by over 70 points to score a solid 7,732. Former Texas A&M athlete Allen Bulick was fourth at 7,227. Tiger sophomore Bjorn Sommerfeldt was fifth at 7,097.
Eveland Tops Own Collegiate and American Record in Women's Decathlon
Austra Skujyte won the second women's decathlon to be held in North America with a score of 8,091. Skujyte, a former K-Stater and 2004 Silver Medalist in the heptathlon, earned the current World Record in the event last year at the Audrey Walton meet.
Kansas State senior Breanna Eveland was second with 7,034 points to achieve a new North American, American, and collegiate record in the event. Marianna Schlachter from K-State was third with 6,338.
Missouri State's Partain Takes Women's Hept
Tracy Partain of Missouri State had an impressive showing in the women's heptathlon, winning with 5,649 points. Her score will give her automatic entry into the NCAA Championships, and ranks as the third-best score in the nation of marks entering the weekend.
Tiger post-collegian Fiona Asigbee finished second with 5,481. Nebraska's Sara Jane Baker was third with 5,175.
Tiger senior Liz Peterson was fifth scoring 4,873, just off of her personal best of 4,881. Sophomore Kaela Rorvig bested her previous personal best in the event by nearly 100 points with a score of 4,786.
A complete recap from today's and tomorrow's action from the 10th Annual Tom Botts Invitational will be posted tomorrow afternoon. A great three-hour conclusion to the Botts meet will commence Saturday at 3 p.m.
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