Ayden Owens-Delerme leads CAC Games decathlon

SAN SALVADOR – Through the first day of the decathlon contested at the Central American and Caribbean Games, Razorback Ayden Owens-Delerme leads the field of nine with a score of 4,436 points while teammate Yariel Soto Torrado is currently in fifth place with 4,033 points.

Owens-Delerme and Soto Torrado are both representing Puerto Rico in the competition. Their day started early, with an 8 a.m. (MT) start and concluded at 8 p.m. (MT).

In comparison, Owens-Delerme had a first day score of 4,606 to lead the World Championships decathlon last summer, placing fourth overall with a career best score of 8,532. He led the 2022 NCAA decathlon with a tally of 4,490 points and finished with a winning score of 8,457.

Opening with the 100m, Owens-Delerme bettered the field with a 10.36 clocking with a wind of 0.4 to produce 1,008 points while Soto Torrado finished fifth with a 10.85 to earn 894 points. Owens-Delerme led the long jump with a 24-9 (7.54) effort to add 945 points with Soto Torrado fifth leaping 23-4 (7.11) for 840 points.

In the shot put, Owens-Delerme was fourth best at 45-6.5 (13.88) to pick up 721 points. A mark of 40-4 (12.29) for Soto Torrado added 624. After an extended break in the schedule a 6-7 (2.01) clearance in the high jump scored 813 for Owens-Delerme while Soto Torrado picked up 785 by clearing 6-6 (1.98).

Finishing off the day with the 400m, Owens-Delerme posted a time of 47.19 to score 949 points and lead the field. Soto Torrado finished in 48.40 as runner-up and collected 890 points.

Following the leading score by Owens-Delerme, the next best tally is 4,307 from Ken Mullings of the Bahamas with Cuba Yancarlos Hernandez in third with 4,149.

The decathlon resumes Tuesday at 8 a.m. (MT) with the 110m hurdles, followed by the discus at 10 a.m. The final event, the 1,500m, will start at 9:35 p.m.

Also racing on Tuesday is Arkansas alum Shafiqua Maloney in the women’s 800m semifinal at 8:10 p.m.