University of Arkansas to Host 2016 Thorpe Cup

INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Arkansas and USA Track and Field are pleased to announce Fayetteville, Ark. as the 2016 host of the 23rd Annual Thorpe Cup on July 29-30 at John McDonnell Field.

This is the 23rd of a series of annual international team decathlons between the United States and Germany. The U.S. teams holds a 13-9 W-L advantage, but the German team has won six of the most recent matches since 2010.

In 2006, the women’s heptathlon was added to the contest with the U.S. leading the current series with a 7-3 advantage and the last six team competitions in a row. This will be the first international competition held at the University of Arkansas. John McDonnell Field is one of only three IAAF Class 1 certified tracks in the United States.

“We are pleased to welcome yet another premiere track and field event to Northwest Arkansas,” said Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long. “The University of Arkansas has an unmatched track and field tradition and has been the home to numerous major events. The opportunity to host the Thorpe Cup, our first international meet, will enable us to enjoy some outstanding track and field action while further enhancing our championship reputation. We look forward to welcoming teams from the United States and Germany to Fayetteville for some spirited competition leading up to the 2016 Olympic Games.”

HISTORY OF THE THORPE CUP:

Currently the world’s most important nation vs. nation team decathlon, this meet has been variously called the VISA CUP Meet or the JEEP Challenge. In 2007, the event officially took the name of The Thorpe Cup in honor of 1912 Olympic Decathlon Champion Jim Thorpe, of Carlisle, Pa.

The concept of an annual team match was initially conceived by VISA-USA team coach Harry Marra and Team Zehnkampf coach Claus Marek in 1993.

In the current series, the first meeting was arranged in Aachen, Germany in 1993 where Stefan Schmid of Germany and the VISA USA team were victorious. The U.S. team won six of the initial seven team battles. In 1999, the event hosted in Aachen was decided by a mere five points. Three years earlier in Edwardsville, Ill., the U.S. squad set a world five-man team record averaging 8121.4 points per man.

This meet has been the proving ground for many notable Olympians. All told, 15 Olympic decathletes have competed in the meet (see below). Only Kip Janvrin, Mike Maczey and Tom Pappas have won the individual title more than once.
In the years before the current series, the U.S,. and German decathlon teams met twice: In 1974, Team USA won both with one of their decathletes in Tallinn, Estonia (tri meet: USA/USSR/Germany). Team USA won again in 1983 in Baton Rouge, La. So, counting the two earlier team meetings, the Americans hold a historical 15-9 national team advantage.

Olympians who have appeared in the Dual Meet:

ARKANSAS TIES TO THE THORPE CUP:
Arkansas Men’s Assistant Coach Travis Geopfert is no stranger to the Thorpe Cup: Geopfert competed in the Thorpe Cup three times (’03, ’05, ’06) and has served as USA team coach another three times (’09, ’13, ’14). In addition, Geopfert has individually coached numerous athletes in the Cup including current Arkansas Track and Field Strength Coach Mat Clark (’10, ’11, ’12)

WHAT THE COACHES SAY:
Arkansas Men’s Head Coach Chris Bucknam: “We are very excited to host such a prestigious event. I know this competition is very personal to Coach Geopfert, and together, with our experienced and proven staff, I have no doubt we are going to host a world-class competition. The timing is exciting as well with the meet a week before the 2016 Olympic Games and we are thrilled to show the world our first class facility at John McDonnell Field.

Arkansas Men’s Assistant Coach Travis Geopfert: “I couldn’t be more excited to serve as host to this event. I appreciate USATF giving us this opportunity. I’ve been privileged to be part of it as an athlete, a coach, and now as a host. The history of this meet is significant and extremely important for the future development of our combined events programs for both the U.S. and Germany. The German Federation always comes to compete with a talented group led by long-time coach Claus Marek. When in Germany, they also do a fantastic job in hosting, thanks to Herman Holzfus, who leads all efforts. These two men, along with Coach Harry Marra and decathlon historian Frank Zarnowski, have made this one of the premier international competitions in the world. I’m excited for us to add to history and show the world what we can do in hosting track and field meets here at the University of Arkansas.

THORPE CUP DECATHLON RECORDS:
Individual Event Meet Records:
100m 10.44 Trafton Rodgers/USA Lubbock (+3.3) 08/09/98
LJ 7.71m (25-3 1/2) Tom Gorz/GER Ratingen 07/29/95
windy 7.73m(25-4 1/2) Chad Smith/USA Lubbock (+4.8) 08/09/98
SP 17.19m(56-4 3/4) Norbert Demmel/GER Ratingen 07/29/95
HJ 2.15m (7- 3/4) Tom Pappas/USA Walnut 07/28/02
400m 47.08 Stefan Drewes/GER Bernhausen 07/22/01
110mH 13.92 Darwin Vande Hoef/USA Edwardsville(+2.9) 7/17/96
Disc 54.78m (179-9) Norbert Demmel/GER Ratingen 07/30/95
PV 5.30m (17-4 1/2) Mario Sategna/USA Kreutzal 07/27/97
David Lemen/USA Bernhausen 08/03/03
Jav 69.98m (229-7) Stefan Schmid/GER Aachen 08/08/93
1500m 4:09.07 Kip Janvrin/USA Aachen 08/08/99
1st day 4472 Tom Pappas/USA Marburg 08/08/09
2nd day 4166 Kip Janvrin/USA Aachen 08/08/93
4183w Kip Janvrin/USA Edwardsville 07/18/96
Total 8569 Tom Pappas/USA Marburg 08/08-09/09

Team Score Record:
USA 40,607 pts July 17, 1996 to July 18, 1996 was a five man team World Record, averaging 8121.4 points per man. (Edwardsville, IL)
Kip Janvrin 8462 pts
Drew Fucci 8146
Darwin Vande Hoef 8123
Brad Swanson 8066
Chris Wilcox 7873

For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.