ATHENS, Ga. and KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tim Duckworth will sleep on a narrow 24-point lead in the Bulldog Decathlon after a career day one in his 2017 outdoor multi-event debut on Saturday.
Duckworth, who took silver in the NCAA Indoor heptathlon last month, leads Georgia’s Devon Williams, the man who edged him for NCAA heptathlon gold by 12 points, 4355-4331 through five events.
Duckworth is 319 points better than his prior decathlon day-one personal best: 4036, which he recorded en route to a PB score 7709. That score earned him fourth place at the Southeastern Conference Championships last season.
He recorded his decathlon best mark in all five events on Saturday.
The highlight was one of the better collegiate decathlon long jumps in recent memory. In fact, it was the farthest long jump of any kind in Kentucky school history: 25’10”/7.87m (+0.0). That mark was 6.75 inches better than Derrick Locke’s previous outdoor school record. The mark was 2.75 inches/seven centimeters better than his prior absolute PR (the indoor school record), which he recorded at the SEC Indoor Championships in February, and more than nine inches better than his prior outdoor best.
Decathlon by event
100m
He began the day by lowering his 100m PB by 0.13 seconds as he edged Williams 10.61-10.72 (+0.3) to win the opening event. He scored 947 points.
100m video credit: Kevin Mobley, The Red&Black
Long Jump
He then increased his lead by winning event No. 2 with the 17th best long jump in the world this season. That mark ranks fourth on the NCAA descending order long jump list entering the weekend. He scored a head-turning 1027 points.
Shot Put
Duckworth placed 10th in the shot put with his best mark in a decathlon: 40’2.25”/12.25m to score 622.
High Jump
Duckworth usually makes most of his ground in the decathlon in the jumps and he scored as much in the high jump as he ever has in a decathlon: 906 points. He tied his best clearance in a decathlon: 6’11”/2.11m, the second best of the meet.
400m
Duckworth placed third overall, winning his heat, in the 400m. His time of 49.18 was a personal best by more than 1.5 seconds to score 853 points. Williams was faster as runner-up in 48.14 (PB, 902pts).
So Duckworth led by 24 points through five of 10 events. The decathlon will continue Sunday beginning at 10:45 a.m.
Tennessee Relays roundup
After Ethan Shalaway won the men’s javelin, Sarah Blake was top collegian in the women’s javelin and Mick Iacofano ran a double-digit seconds PR in the 5k on
Friday, UK had discus throwers compete on Saturday.
Noah Castle placed sixth in the men’s discus with a mark of 170’4”, and Nicole Fautsch placed 12th in the women’s discus at 142’5”/43.42m.
Nugent continues strong start in Grenada
Kentucky Class of 2015, current volunteer assistant, and Rio Olympic finalist Leah Nugent continued to stamp her name among the best 400m hurdlers in the world on Saturday at the Grenada Invitational.
She ran stride for stride beyond the final barrier with Rio Bronze Medalist Ashley Spencer as Spencer edged Nugent with a world-leading 54.78 compared with Nugent’s season-best 54.88. Nugent is approaching her lifetime best 54.44, which she ran at the Olympic Games last August.
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2017 Bulldog Decathlon – Tim Duckworth
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100m
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1. Tim Duckworth: 10.62 (+0.3) – 947 points |Personal best
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Long Jump
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1. Duckworth: 25’10”/7.87m (+0.0) – 1027 points | UK absolute LJ record
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Shot Put
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10. Duckworth: 40’2.25”/12.25m – 622 points | Decathlon and outdoor personal best
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High Jump
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2. Duckworth: 6’11”/2.11m – 906 points | Tied decathlon personal best
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400m
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3. Tim Duckworth: 49.18 – 853 points | personal best
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Day One Total
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1. Tim Duckworth: 4355 (+319 on prior day one PB)
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110m hurdles
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Discus
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Pole Vault
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Javelin
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1,500m
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Total
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2017 Tennessee Relays UK Schedule and Results
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Thursday, April 6
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Field
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Women’s Hammer Throw
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7. Brandi Walker: 184’6”/56.25m
17. Nicole Fautsch: 129’4”/39.43m
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Men’s Hammer Throw
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4. David Cline: 206’0”/62.80m (T-PR)
7. Logan Bryer: 188’8”/52.52m
12. Charles Lenford: 172’2”/52.47m
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Friday, April 7
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Field
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Women’s Javelin
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2. Sarah Blake: 165’9”/50.52m
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Women’s Shot Put
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9. Nicole Fautsch: 44’6”/13.56m (outdoor season best)
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Men’s Shot Put
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8. Noah Castle: 56’11.25”/17.35m
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Men’s Javelin
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1. Ethan Shalaway: 223’6”/68.12m
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Track
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Men’s 400m Hurdles
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7. William Walker: 54.08
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Men’s 400m
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20. William Walker: 49.96
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Women’s 800m
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18. Devynn Miller: 2:16.39
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Women’s 3000m Steeplechase
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1. Amy Hansen: 10: 52.10
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Men’s 3000m Steeplechase
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4. Matthew Thomas: 9:40.66
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Women’s 1500m
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29. Sarah Crawford: 4:44.51
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Men’s 1500m
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29. Raine Wireman: 4:00.48
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Women’s 5000m
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16. Caitlin Shepard: 17:31.64
17. Avery Bussjager: 17:37.61
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Men’s 5000m
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5. Mick Iacofano: 14:26.97 (PR)
26. Tanner Dowdy: 15:18.00 (PR)
28. Cole Dowdy: 15:23.42
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Saturday, April 8
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Field
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Women’s Discus
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12. Nicole Fautsch: 142’5”/43.42m
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Men’s Discus
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6. Noah Castle: 170’4”/51.93m
8. Charles Lenford: 167’8”/51.11m
13. Logan Bryer: 154’11”/47.21m
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