EUGENE, Ore. – Senior Austin West racked up 8,018 points and placed sixth in the decathlon on Saturday night at Hayward Field.
West picked up three season bests on Saturday, starting with a 14.59 in the 110-meter hurdles. He then notched a pair of season bests in the field, hurling the discus 44.04 meters before launching the javelin 59.36 meters. The javelin mark was good for fourth place amongst the competition. West concluded his decathlon with a seventh-place finish in the 1,500 meters, crossing the line in 4:42.83.
Senior Kalen Walker advanced to the semifinals of the 100-meter dash on Saturday evening, sprinting in 10.23.
Walker qualified on time and finished 23rd overall. The top five sprinters in each of five heats auto-qualified to the semifinals. Walker’s time was the best of any non-automatic qualifier, earning the spot in tomorrow night’s second round. The Eddyville, Iowa, native was .01 seconds from earning the automatic bid in heat five. Both the semifinals and finals will take place Sunday evening at Hayward Field, with the semifinals beginning at approximately 7:45 p.m.
Hawkeye alumnus Nik Curtiss placed 12th in the men’s shot put, ending his Olympic Trials with a 19.47-meter throw.
HEAR FROM DIRECTOR OF TRACK AND FIELD JOEY WOODY
“Austin had a great day two in the Decathlon. The throws were strong for him today. He put himself in a good position during the discus with a near PR. He had a great series of throws in the javelin, which was the second-to-last event. He’s had a tough outdoor season and I know he didn’t reach the goals he set for himself, but I am very proud of how he competed this weekend to finish his last meet as a Hawkeye.”
“I’m excited for Kalen competing for the first time in about six weeks coming off an injury to punch his ticket to the semifinals. I think getting that race out of the way will help him feel even more confident going into tomorrow and he will execute even better.”
UP NEXT: Kalen Walker returns to the track on Sunday evening, competing in the semifinals of the 100 meters at 7:45 p.m. If Walker finishes in the top two of his heat or is one of the next three fastest times, he will compete in the finals at 9:40 p.m. on Sunday.
HAWKEYE RESULTS
Austin West (Decathlon)
6. 8,018 points
10. 100 meters – 10.78
6. Long Jump – 7.33 meters (24’ 0.75”), SB
5. Shot Put – 15.09 meters (49’ 6.25”), PR
9. High Jump – 1.92 meters (6’ 3.50”)
3. 400 meters – 46.91
10. 110-meter hurdles – 14.59, SB
9. Discus – 44.04 meters (144’ 6”), SB
16. Pole Vault – 4.25 meters (13’ 11.25”)
4. Javelin – 59.36 meters (194’ 9”), SB
7. 1,500 meters – 4:42.83
Kalen Walker (100 Meters)
Qualifier Round
23. 10.23, q
Nik Curtiss (Shot Put)
Finals
12. 19.47 meters (63’ 10.50”)
SUNDAY’S SCHEDULE
Kalen Walker (100 Meters)
Semifinals (7:45 p.m.)
Finals (9:40 p.m.)