Wake Forest Athletics
Wake Forest University
USATF Junior & Outdoor Championships
Michael Bingham Wins Decathlon At USATF Outdoor Championship
6/26/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track and Field
June 26, 2005
Carson, Calif. - Deacon freshman Michael Bingham claimed the 2005 junior decathlon title at the USATF Outdoor Championship on Sunday. The 18-member decathlon field consisted of athletes from ages 15 to 19.
"The weather conditions made things more difficult," said Bingham's coach and assistant director of Wake Forest track and field Scott Hall. "But despite the wind and other factors at the meet, Bingham did well managing it and working through the rough spots. From a mental standpoint he was extremely successful and we're very proud of him."
As he has done all season, Bingham sprinted to an early lead in the decathlon with his 10.67 time in the 100 meter dash. It marked his fastest personal time and the best time by any Deacon all season. The finish earned him 935 points, the only athlete of the 18-member field to earn over 900 points in the opening event. His time was also faster than any of the athletes in the men's senior decathlon.
In the long jump, the Burlington, N.C., native tied for fifth place, with his 21-09.50 leap. The distance earned him 729 points and a hold on his first place overall lead.
Bingham shattered his personal best in the shot put, throwing 40-10.25. The toss earned him 634 points in the event, but dropped him three points off the leader through three rounds.
Northern Iowa's Raven Cepeda maintained his three point margin after the high jump, as he and Bingham both reached heights of 6-00.50. The mark was a personal best for Wake's only All-ACC male performer of the year.
Blowing past the field in the 400 meter dash, Bingham regained the lead through five events and holds a 200 point edge heading into the final five events on Sunday. His 48.29 time in the event earned him 895 points. The next closest time was 50.51.
Bingham finished first in the 110 meter hurdles event, his third first place finish in just six events. His 14.80 earned him 874 points and after edging Cepeda and his 14.88, extended his lead to 210 points after one event on Sunday.
In the discus throw, Bingham launched a 112-08, earning 550 points and keeping him in the lead. David Pichler, who won the discus throw, stood 59 points behind Bingham after the seventh event.
Bingham reached 13-03.50 in the pole vault, good for a second place finish in that event. His 631 points kept him in first place, holding off Pichler who threw 12-11.50 for 603 points. Michael Morrison dominated the field in the pole vault event, reaching 16-02.75 (895 points) and vaulting into third place overall.
On his second attempt, Bingham threw the javelin 148-00, earning him 517 points. He remained in the lead heading into the tenth and final event.
Despite decathlon runner-up Pichler's 4:47.26 in the 1500 meter run, which earned him 635 points, Bingham ran a personal best in the event (4:50.38) and scored 616 points for a decathlon total of 7,042. By winning the decathlon, he qualified for the Junior Pan Am championship in Windsor Ontario, Canada July 29-31.
Bingham finished third in the heptathlon at the conference meet during the indoor season, earning him All-ACC honors. He defeated the defending decathlon champion during the outdoor conference meet to capture the first individual conference title for the Wake Forest men's track team in three years and just the second conference decathlon title in school history. He set an NCAA regional qualifying mark in the 400 meter race during that meet and his point total of 7,162 qualified him for the NCAA Championship. Bingham claimed first place in all three decathlons that he completed during his freshman outdoor season.
This marks the second consecutive year that a Deacon has won his/her event at the USATF Championship. In 2004, rising junior Selina Sekulic claimed first place in the steeplechase, which qualified her for the Pan Am games last summer.
Players Mentioned
