NCAA Track and Field Preview: Heptathlon/Decathlon

Reigning 2009 multi-event champions, Ashton Eaton and Brianne Theisen, are the favorites to defend their titles and secure 10 important points for the Oregon Ducks.

Schedule

Wednesday, June 9

1:00-5:30-Women’s Heptathlon Day 1

Thursday, June 10

10:00-4:00-Men’s Decathlon Day 1

1:45-5:15-Women’s Heptathlon Day 2

Friday, June 11

10:00-6:15-Men’s Decathlon Day 2

Women’s Preview

The heptathlon looks to be a duel between Brianne Theisen of Oregon and Clemson’s Liane Weber.  Their 2010 best efforts are only separated by 14 points and no other competitor is within 200 points.  Given that she’s the defending champ and will have the Hayward faithful on her side, we’re giving the advantage to Theisen for the title.  Her potential 10 points will be needed as the Ducks challenge for the team title.

Others to watch in the heptathlon include: Sandy Fortner of New Mexico; ACC runner-up Kiani Profit of Maryland and surprising Big Ten champ and newcomer, Dorcas Akinniyi.

Women Heptathlon
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     Name                        Year School               Points
===============================================================================
  1  Brianne Theisen               JR Oregon                 5942
  2  Liane Weber                   SR Clemson                5928
  3  Sandy Fortner                 SR New Mexico             5723
  4  Kiani Profit                  JR Maryland               5686
  5  Chealsea Taylor               SR Alabama                5672
  6  Ulrike Hartz                  JR Idaho                  5601
  7  Dorcas Akinniyi               FR Wisconsin              5584
  8  Laquinta Aaron                SR Miss State             5563
  9  Barbara Nwaba                 JR Santa Barbara          5552
 10  Uhunoma Osazuwa               SR Syracuse               5549
 11  Precious Nwokey               SO Kentucky               5543
 12  Buky Bamigboye                SR Vanderbilt             5527
 13  Diana Dumitrescu              SO Kent State             5518
 14  Desirae Gonder                JR Northridge             5512
 15  Lucie Ondraschkova            FR Georgia                5467
 16  Ryann Krais                   SO UCLA                   5426
 17  Daphne Fitzpatrick            JR Texas A&M              5395
 18  Cassie Merkley                SR Idaho St.              5352
 19  Chantae McMillan              JR Nebraska               5349
 20  Whitney Carlson               JR N. Dakota St.          5343
 21  Megan Wheatley                JR Nebraska               5341
 22  Heather Zander                SR N. Dakota St.          5328
 23  Charlene Charles              FR Jacksonville           5325
 24  Olimpia Nowak                 SO UNI                    5325

Men’s Preview

Is there any better way to finish off a world record setting season and career than in front of your home crowd?  That’s exactly what Oregon senior Ashton Eaton gets to do at Hayward Field this week.  With a current year point total over 600 points better than his nearest competitor, the Bend, Oregon native’s only real competition will be himself and history.  If weather conditions permit, he will challenge the collegiate record (8465) and the current world leading mark of Bryan Clay (8483).

Others looking good for a top-five finish in the multi are the dynamic duo from Missouri, Nick Adcock and Lars Rise; talented Florida sophomore Gray Horn, and UNC Tarheel Mateo Sossah.  Horn and Texas A&M’s Trinity Otto could really benefit their team’s title hopes by putting together a great two day effort.

Men Decathlon
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     Name                        Year School               Points
===============================================================================
  1  Ashton Eaton                  SR Oregon                 8310
  2  Nick Adcock                   SR Missouri               7704
  3  Lars Rise                     JR Missouri               7695
  4  Mateo Sossah                  SR North Carolina         7667
  5  Gray Horn                     SO Florida                7652
  6  Miller Moss                   SR Clemson                7628
  7  Michael Morrison              JR California             7557
  8  Trinity Otto                  SR Texas A&M              7542
  9  Robert Robinson               SR Northridge             7526
 10  Jeremy Taiwo                  SO Washington             7521
 11  Cory Holman                   JR Georgia                7500
 12  Daniel Keller                 SR North Carolina         7467
 13  Bjorn Johansson               SO Akron                  7432
 14  Moritz Cleve                  JR Kansas St.             7429
 15  Wesley Bray                   JR Houston                7429
 16  Kurt Felix                    JR Boise State            7412
 17  Philip Adam                   JR Rice                   7396
 18  Nick Trubachik                SR Portland St.           7390
 19  R.J. McGinnis                 SR Minnesota              7381
 20  Frank Shotwell                JR Michigan               7379
 21  Sean Smith                    SR Connecticut            7370
 22  Dave Grzesiak                 SO Wisconsin              7364
 23  Marshall Ackley               SR Oregon                 7331
 24  Daniel Kinsey                 SR Akron                  7313