Caren Ware Sets Decathlon Record

[rainbowgirl28]

http://www.mountain-news.com/articles/2 ... /news1.txt

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

[nambi]

Congratulations, Karen, on completing this challenging, but very rewarding event. Hopefully this good publicity will encourage others to participate.

Several other women masters have completed a decathlon and the records are being kept by the USATF and WMA. They will be posted when there are more results available.

Rita Hanscom did one at age 52, scoring 7213 points. Nadine O'Connor did one at 64, scoring 8464 points. Hillen Van Maltzen did one at 57, but I don't know her score. Others are Kay Glynn at 54 with 6770 points and Mary Trotto at 60 with 3783. Caren's score was 4857. Scores are computed based on the five year age grading tables.