Caren Ware Sets Decathlon Record
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:17 am
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Ware Sets Decathlon Record
Despite having broken her elbow in May at an event in Oregon, Lake Arrowhead resident and USA Track and Field Masters athlete Caren Ware took the national championship in Birmingham, Alabama by storm.
Ware set an American record in the decathlon, amassing the highest total score in the 10-event, two-day competition held on June 9 and 10 in 90 degree temperatures and 90 percent humidity.
The decathlon is a two-day miniature track meet designed to ascertain the sport's best all-around athlete. Within its competitive rules, each athlete must sprint 100 meters; do the long jump, shot put and high jump; run 400 meters; throw the discus, javelin, pole vault; and run the 1500 meters.
Athletes participate in five slated events each day with a half hour set time between each event. The decathlon has traditionally been a men's event with the heptathlon (seven events) being the female counterpart.
Only recently has the track world voted and opened the decathlon to women, which added the pole vault, discus, and 1500 to the equation.
Ware, as the American record holder in the heptathlon, took on the challeng e of setting the first American record in the decathlon. “I am always up for firsts!â€Â
Ware Sets Decathlon Record
Despite having broken her elbow in May at an event in Oregon, Lake Arrowhead resident and USA Track and Field Masters athlete Caren Ware took the national championship in Birmingham, Alabama by storm.
Ware set an American record in the decathlon, amassing the highest total score in the 10-event, two-day competition held on June 9 and 10 in 90 degree temperatures and 90 percent humidity.
The decathlon is a two-day miniature track meet designed to ascertain the sport's best all-around athlete. Within its competitive rules, each athlete must sprint 100 meters; do the long jump, shot put and high jump; run 400 meters; throw the discus, javelin, pole vault; and run the 1500 meters.
Athletes participate in five slated events each day with a half hour set time between each event. The decathlon has traditionally been a men's event with the heptathlon (seven events) being the female counterpart.
Only recently has the track world voted and opened the decathlon to women, which added the pole vault, discus, and 1500 to the equation.
Ware, as the American record holder in the heptathlon, took on the challeng e of setting the first American record in the decathlon. “I am always up for firsts!â€Â