Ashton Eaton
INDIANAPOLIS – Former University of Oregon great Ashton Eaton has been named USA Track & Field’s Athlete of the Week after winning the Millrose Multi Challenge Friday night at the 104th Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The Millrose Multi Challenge was a three-event scored competition including the 60-meter hurdles, shot put and high jump. The event featured America’s finest combined event performers, 2008 Olympic Games gold medalist Bryan Clay, reigning world decathlon champion Trey Hardee, and Eaton, who has won the last three NCAA decathlon titles, and last year set the world record in the indoor heptathlon.
Hardee set a personal best of 15.94 meters/52 feet 3 inches in winning the first event of the competition, the shot put.
The second event was the 60m hurdles, which was dominated by Eaton. Clay and Eaton both broke well from the blocks, but half way through the race Eaton took command and gradually stretched his lead the rest of the way in crossing the finish line first in a personal-best time of 7.64. Eaton’s performance is the fastest 60m hurdles ever in an indoor multi-event competition. Clay was the runner-up in 7.78, with Hardee third in 7.83.
Eaton also won the final event of the challenge, the high jump, with his clearance of 2.05m/6-8.75 giving him the victory with 2,666 points. Hardee was the runner-up with 2,640 points, with Clay finishing third in 2,609. Jake Arnold was fourth with 2,491 points and Duke University sophomore Curtis Beach placed fifth with 2,360 points.
Now in its tenth year, USATF’s Athlete of the Week program is designed to recognize outstanding performers at all levels of the sport. USATF names a new honoree each week and features the athlete on the USATF website. Selections are based on top performances and results from the previous week.
Winners: January 5, Bill Tribou; January 12, Tyler Sorensen; January 20, Josh Cox; January 26, Ben Shorey; February 2, Ashton Eaton.
