U.S. Outdoors Day 2: Hardee Wins Decathlon

The second day of the U.S. Outdoor Championships opened with events in the men’s decathlon. When the dust settled Trey Hardee maintained his lead and won with 8261 points. Ashton Eaton held second place all day and finished with 8075 points while Jake Arnold took third with7984. Hardee won Friday’s first event, the 110 hurdles (13.95). Dan Kinsey had the top discus throw (48.75 meters/159 feet, 11 inches) and five competitors, including Hardee, led the pole vault charts by clearing 5.0 meters (16 feet, 4¾ inches). Hardee won the javelin (64.12/210-4) and Joe Detmer finished first in the 1500 (4:21.48).

Tyson Gay, having run his one required race, dropped out of the men’s 100. As the defending World Outdoor champion at 100 and 200, he needed run only one race to draw an automatic bye into the August Outdoor Championships. Mike Rodgers prevailed in Friday’s 100-meter semifinals with a wind-aided 9.85 seconds, then won the final in 9.91, also wind-aided. Darvis Patton was second in the final (9.92) and Monzavous Edwards was a slightly surprising third (10.0). Beijing bronze medalist Walter Dix was a very surprising non-qualifier after running 10.32 in the semifinal. After the race Dix indicated that he’d re-injured a strained hamstring.

In the women’s 100 final, Carmelita Jeter edged Muna Lee by .001 second, as both were credited with a wind-aided 10.78 seconds Lauryn Williams grabbed the final ticket to the World Championships by taking third in 10.96. Jeter suffered a leg cramp late in the race but said she’d be ready to run in the 200-meter preliminaries Saturday. Jeter led the women’s semis earlier in the day (10.72).

The men’s 5000-meter final literally came down to the wire, where Matt Tegenkamp edged Chris Solinsky. Tegenkamp finished in 13:20.57 to Solinsky’s 13:30.82. Evan Jager took third place (13:22.18). The women’s 5000 wasn’t nearly as close, as Kara Goucher won decisively, finishing in 15:20.94. Jen Rhines placed second (15.26.92) and Angela Bizzarri third (15:33.02).

Shakeema Welsch was the women’s triple jump winner thanks to a second-round leap measuring 14.30/46-11. Welsch had the event’s top three jumps. Erica McLain was second (13.91/45-7¾), edging Toni Smith (13.90/45-7¼). Shani Marks didn’t make the final three rounds, finishing a surprising 11th, sandwiching a pair of fouls around a jump measuring 13.14/43-1½).

In women’s shot put, Michelle Carter’s fourth-round toss of 18.03/59-2 gave her the victory. Jill Camarena took the lead in the second round (17.94/58-10), but settled for second. Kristin Heaton placed third (17.88/58-8).

Casey Malone slipped past Jarred Rome in the fourth round to win the men’s discus final with a throw measuring 64.99/213-3. Rome fell to third but regained second place in the sixth round (63.48/208-3), while favored Ian Waltz hung on to third place (61.91/203-1).

In the women’s 400 hurdles semifinal, Lashinda Demus, who was second-fastest in the first round, led all qualifiers with a time of 54.80. Sheena Tosta was second (55.96). Justin Gaymon led the men’s 400 hurdles prelims (49.86) followed by Jeshua Anderson (50.22).

Kerron Clement, who’ll run the 400 hurdles at the World Championships, was the fastest man in the straight 400 semifinals, finishing in 45.08, with Gil Roberts next in 45.18. LaShawn Merritt won the second heat, cruising home in 45.45. Sanya Richards won the women’s semi in 50.96, followed by Debbie Dunn (51.39). Shareese Woods won the first heat in 51.46.

Geena Gall won her women’s 800 semifinal heat in 2:01.99, while Maggie Vessey took the second heat in 2:03.49. Nick Symmonds was the fastest man in the 800 semis (1:47.50), while Khadevis Robinson won the other heat (1:47.66).

The favorites both won their heats in the women’s steeplechase semifinals. Jennifer Barringer had the fastest time overall, winning in 9:47.94, while Anna Willard won her heat in 9:52.98. Bridget Franek was second overall in 9:51.16.

Dexter Faulk led the way in the men’s 110 hurdles preliminaries, finishing in a wind-aided 13.16 seconds. Jason Richardson was second (13.29). As expected, the injured David Oliver did not compete.