Decathlon first day has Ayden Owens-Delerme in sixth place

BUDAPEST, Hungary – Through the first day of the World Championships decathlon Razorback Ayden Owens-Delerme is stationed in sixth place with 4,429 points after contesting five events at the National Athletics Center on Friday.

Leading the event is German Leo Neugebauer, the 2023 NCAA champion for Texas, with 4,640 points while the Canadian pair of Pierce LePage (4,610) and Damian Warner (4,578) are currently second and third.

Just ahead of Owens-Delerme in fourth and fifth place are Lindon Victor of Grenada (4,476) and Estonia’s Johannes Erm (4,430).

Owens-Delerme started off with a 10.43 in the 100m, the second-best time among a field of 24, to earn 992 points. Warner led the field with a 10.32 to score 1,018 points. In the long jump, a mark of 25-4 (7.72) was fifth best in the field and added 990 points.

Neugebauer led the long jump with a 26-3 (8.00) leap to score 1,016 points and he also topped the shot put with a 57-1 (17.40) toss for 916 points.

For Owens-Delerme a shot put mark of 46-11 (14.30) picked up 747 points. Then a 6-2.75 (1.90) high jump tacked on 714 points.

Closing out the first day with the 400m, Owens-Delerme produced the top time of 46.44 over a 46.52 from Harrison Williams to secure 986 points and reach his first day tally of 4,429 points, moving up from 10th place after the high jump to sixth.

Day two the decathlon starts with the 110m hurdles, the follows with the discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1,500m.

Saturday’s schedule also includes prelims in the men’s and women’s 4 x 400m relay, where a few Razorbacks are included in the relay pool for the United States, Jamaica, and Great Britain.