Decathlon championship up for grabs
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By Tom Haley Rutland Herald - Published: June 15, 2007
CHESTER — The margin separating Fair Haven's Manuel Richards and Essex's Jamie Kida is thinner than Dr. Jerry Jasinski's scoresheet at the Knights of Columbus Decathlon Championships. Richards amassed 2,991 points to 2,990 for Kida on Thursday.
Jasinski, who founded this meet 32 years ago as the result of having a rewarding experience as a decathlete at Towle High School while finishing second in New Hampshire, has a logjam on his hands after the first five events with Essex's Scott Cayea third with 2,954 points, Thetford's Academy's Matt Longwell fourth with 2,862 and Essex's Jason Polakowski fifth at 2,852.
But a lot can happen with the 110-hurdles, discus, javelin, pole vault and 1500 still to be run today.
Richards won the 400-meter dash in a time of 52.26. He also tied for first in the high jump by clearing 5-10. He earned significant points with his fourth in the 100 meters, a sixth in the long jump and 11th in the shot put.
"I think getting a good 1500 will be the key," Richards said of his chances of holding onto that one-point lead today.
"I am just looking to beat every one of my marks from last year and so far, so good," said the senior headed for the University of Rhode Island track and field program.
"Today was definitely my stronger day. I'll do all right in the pole vault. I'm not a beginner in that event.
"In the other events, I'm in the middle. I'm not at the high end or the low end."
Kida is at the high end of the pole vault. He set the state record in the event at the New Englands last week.
Essex decathlon coach David Gomez knows what it takes to win a decathlon. He won three in a row as an athlete at Lamoille Union from 1978 to 1980.
"It's a little different pole vaulting here where you have had a day's worth of work the day before," Gomez said. "If he has a good day in the pole vault that could help him (Kida) out."
Kida is a senior but he has not competed in the decathlon since his freshman year.
Burlington's Tyrone Conley, the 2006 decathlon champion, is not competing as his graduation is today.
Following Richards and Kida are Essex's Scott Cayea (2,954), Thetford's Matt Longwell (2,862), Essex's Jason Polakowski (2,852), Mount Abraham's Alex Huizenga (2,836), Essex's Beau Cameron (2,733), Windsor's Tim Lens (2,725), Fair Haven's Nick Montello (2,674) and BFA-St. Albans' Andrew Jehle (2,648).
Huizenga won the 100-meter dash in a time of 11.64 and also had two second places. He clocked 53.27 to finish second to Richards in the 400 meters and was second to South Royalton's David Mattern in the shot put. Mattern marked 37-10.50 to 37-06.75 for Huizenga.
Kida won the long jump with a mark of 20-02.25 and was in a four-way tie for first in the high jump with Richards, Cayea and Polakowski.
Green Mountain junior Tom Martin is in 16th place in the field of 38, but he figures to command considerable attention from the hometown fans today as he attempts to set a school record in the pole vault after just missing in his bid to break it at the Division III state championship meet.
Competition starts today at 9 a.m.
Notes: The winner of the first Vermont decathlon 32 years ago was Rutland High's Bruce Tobin, but there are no Rutland decathletes competing this year. … The meet was moved from the customary Friday-Saturday arrangement to Thursday-Friday. Jasinski said he received complaints from officials at a few schools about the change. The move was made because the automatic timing was not available on Saturday this year. … Schools that have at least three heptathletes are eligible for the team competition. Schools vying for the team heptathlon championship are BFA-St. Albans, Burlington, Essex, Fair Haven, Mount Abraham, Rice, South Royalton, Springfield and St. Johnsbury. Those schools competing for the team title in the decathlon include Bellows Falls, BFA-St. Albans, Essex, Fair Haven, Green Mountain Union, Mount Abraham and South Royalton. … Mount Abraham's Michelle Laframboise made the trip but had to be scratched because of having wisdom teeth pulled.
Contact Tom Haley at tom.haley@rutlandherald.com
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