Track Posts Two Top Ten Finishes in Decathlon
3/27/2009 12:00:00 AM
March 27, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama men's track and field team continued competition as host of the Alabama Relays at Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium on Friday. After a rainy morning, the sun came out from behind the clouds to make for a great day on the oval to end the decathlon competition.
"I like that we finished two in the top eight, I think that's a positive," head coach Harvey Glance said. "It's their first decathlon and I'm sure they can think back and draw on a lot of things that they could've done a little better in. We know Hughes is a 15-7 type vaulter and he only vaulted a foot below that. We know that Clyburn is a 6-10 high jumper so we can get a little bit more out of that and the hurdles. All in all, to come out sixth and eighth when there are 20 plus athletes in this meet competing. I'm really proud of the way these guys stepped up."
In the discus throw as part of the decathlon, the Crimson Tide posted three finishers in the top 11 led by David Clyburn's heave of 91-1 to place seventh. Michael Hughes was ninth and Justin Brady 11th with throws of 90-1 and 85-3, respectively.
Hughes posted another top ten finish in the pole vault event, but this time came out on top winning with a clearance of 14-7 1/4.
Joining Hughes with his own victory, Clyburn won the javelin event with a throw of 166-7, almost five feet farther than second place. Brady and Hughes were seventh and eighth with throws of 146-10 and 146-3, respectively.
Brady turned in the best finish from Alabama in the 1,500m race, the last event of the day, as he ran a time of 4:57.15 to place seventh.
In the decathlon final standings, Daryl Brady of Mississippi State took home the title with a point total of 6,544. Jager Livingston (Auburn) was second and Derek Drouin (Indiana) was third with 6,463 and 6,318 points, respectively.
Hughes and Clyburn both finished in the top ten as Hughes was sixth and Clyburn finished eighth with point totals of 6,145 and 6,057, respectively. Brady finished 12th with 5,569 points.
"Brady moved from the bottom of the cellar to a 12th place finish so he got better and that's encouraging as well," Glance said. "All three of those guys were in worse position that what they finished today and that means they finished well. I think in this sport that's what you have to do is to be a finisher. They had a better second day than they had the first day so I'm proud of that."
Running events will resume Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. with the women's 10,000m race and field events are set to follow beginning at 10:00 a.m. with the men's collegiate section pole vault gets underway.
