Overview
- Barton won the NCAA decathlon with a personal-best 8,169 points, edging Louisville’s Kenneth Byrd by nine points and becoming BYU’s first decathlon champion since 1981.
- The title was decided in the final 1,500-meter event after Barton overcame a roughly 50-point deficit to Byrd by running the needed margin in the last race.
- Freshman Jane Hedengren, who set the collegiate 10,000-meter record in April, led much of the 10,000m final but was passed in the last 200 meters and finished third behind Mercyline Kirwa and Pamela Kosgei.
- BYU’s men finished 21st in the team standings with 12 points, 10 of which came from Barton’s win, as expected scorers Carter Cutting and Tayvon Kitchen failed to score significant points.
- The NCAA meet continues at Hayward Field with remaining women’s finals on Saturday, including Hedengren in the 5,000m, and Barton’s score stands as the collegiate season lead and a major boost for BYU’s multi-event program.