University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
USA Outdoor Decathlon Championships%
Former Vol Pappas Wins USA Decathlon Championships
June 20, 2002 | Men's Track
June 20, 2002
BERKELEY, Calif. -- The brightest star in Tennessee's storied decathlon history outshined his fellow Americans Thursday evening as former Vol Tom Pappas won the USA Decathlon Championships with 8,398 points. Pappas, the NCAA record holder and a 2000 Olympian, took his second USA decathlon title under sunny skies with temperatures in the low 60s at Cal's Edwards Stadium in Berkeley. While the 8,398 doesn't quite match his lifetime best of 8,583 notched earlier this month, the score stands as a stadium record and helps further cement the Oregon native as America's top decathlete. Pappas' mark blasted the previous stadium mark of 7,698 points by Russ Hodge in 1971.
"You can never be disappointed with a win, but my scores were not a good indication of what I was ready for," Pappas said. "Competing in Gotzis two weeks ago was a great meet that I had, and I thought I could do better than that here. Whether or not my legs are still tired from that trip, I don't know. I made a lot of mental mistakes and technically it wasn't there. I think the physical part was pretty good."
Pappas took wins in the long jump, 24-7, and high jump, 6-11 3/4, to best the 14-decathlete field. Additionally, Pappas fueled his performance with runner-up finishes in the 100M dash, 10.81; shot put, 49-6 1/4; 110M hurdles, 13.97; pole vault, 16-4 3/4 and javelin, 197-10. Pappas will represent the U.S. in the USA vs. Germany Decathlon later this summer. Pappas still ranks first in the U.S. and second in the world in 2002.
Meanwhile, two more decathletes with Tennessee ties made their way into the top half of the results. In fact, three of the top seven decathletes at the USA Championships received their collegiate training at Tennessee. Former Vol Chad Smith took fourth with 7,914 points, not a personal best but just 20 points out of third place. Smith's highlight was a second-place finish in the 400M dash.
Additionally, rising senior Stephen Harris took seventh with 7,712 points after a busy month of competition. Since the second week of May Harris has competed in an unheard of four decathlons. Harris' lifetime best of 7,955, scored earlier this month at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, would have placed the Norcross, Ga., native third. Even so, Harris proved to be plenty competitive with his professional counterparts. Harris made his mark by winning the 400M dash in 48.38. Harris also took second in the 1,500M run with a 4:25.58 timing to close the two-day event and prove he had a little left in the tank.
With the USA Decathlon Championships in the books, the Volunteers have a full day on tap for Friday's opening of the USA Outdoor Championships. Freshman Jim Sexton starts things off with the hammer throw in the USA Junior Championships. Rising sophomore Frank Francois will also compete in the 800M run in the Juniors. In the USA Championships, former Vol Jebreh Harris lines up in the 800M run prelims. Additionally, outgoing senior Camron Howard takes his turn in the sand pit in the long jump. A trio of former distance Vols is slated to make the laps after presstime Friday night. Anthony Famiglietti and Tony Cosey give the former Vols a threat in the steeplechase. Additionally, distance great Todd Williams caps the evening with the 10,000M run.
