Eaton starts Texas dec with a bang

[26mi235]

Re: Eaton starts Texas dec with a bang

The OT in 2012 should be a 4 way shoot out.

At least one, if not two, of these guys will be injured.

[/quote]

I"m assuming you're referring to Clay, Hardee, Eaton and Beach. [/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]

Pappas might have been #4, although I do not know his current status (he started decas 15 years ago), but he had this last year:

2009: 1st at Thorpe Cup Challenge (8,569 points).

[bruce3404]

Re: Eaton starts Texas dec with a bang

I would still place Pappas as my #4, but I'd give him no chance to make the podium in either Daegu or London.

[gh]

Re: Eaton starts Texas dec with a bang

It took only 8528 to medal in Berlin, and 8527 (how's that for symmetry?!) in Beijing. If Pappas can match his score of last summer, a medal is not remotely remote. Gotta remember the casualty rate in this event (both before and during the big meets) is huge.

[LopenUupunut]

Re: Eaton starts Texas dec with a bang

If Pappas can match his score of last summer, yes... but that's the problem. He'll turn 35 a couple of days after Daegu, and no decathlete has ever done anything like 8500 at that age (thanks pela2). I doubt Pappas will be the first - even so, I agree he's more likely to be a factor than Beach if still around...

[trackstar]

Re: Eaton starts Texas dec with a bang

Plus a pragmatic concern:

Your timing company has to have extra cameras and be able to mount them (not always an easy task) at the other end of the straightaway. (and somebody needs to figure out where the hurdles go, since they won't match the existing lines on the track)

GH: Not a problem at Texas. It's not unusual at all for them to change directions.

[lonewolf]

Re: Eaton starts Texas dec with a bang

Texas has a crackerjack event set-up crew. We have on occasion changed direction of the horizontal jumps (between events of course) in 4 minutes.
The pits are pre-prepped and undercover, the crew reset the takeoff boards, we reversed direction of sideline tape, repositioned windgauge, clock and athlete benches. No problem.