Eugene, Oregon, USA - Bryan Clay, the 2004 Olympic Decathlon silver medallist, scored a world season leading 8832 points to win the Decathlon on the fourth day of the U.S. Olympic Trials.

Clay’s total, a personal best and the highest score by an American in 16 years, moves him into a tie with Jürgen Hingsen for fifth on the world all-time list; this despite efforts in the Long Jump and Shot Put which were well off his bests in those events.

Behind him were recently graduated University of Texas star Trey Hardee with 8543, also a personal best, and five-time U.S. champion Tom Pappas.

A full report of the men’s Decathlon can be viewed by clicking on the link in ‘Related Content’ underneath the main photo to the right of this story

A crowd of more than 20,000 – a sell-out for the fourth consecutive day – cheered the decathletes wildly as they took the rapidly-becoming-traditional collective victory lap.

They had plenty of other things to cheer about.

Symmonds runs ‘a smart race’

In an electrifying men’s 800 metres final, three locally based runners took the three Olympic team places. Nicholas Symmonds continued his improvement with a stirring homestretch sprint to win by seven metres in a PB 1:44.10. Behind him were the 1.96 tall Andrew Wheating, in only his third year of track competition, roared up from the of the pack to take second in a PB of his own, 1:45.03, and third was Christian Smith in 1:45.47. 

"I've been working on that kick for a couple years now. I just ran a smart race, and I knew that I was going to wait until the last 100 metres to flip the switch. It felt so good to burn it on the last 100," said Symmonds.

Favourite Khadevis Robinson, who set a stiff 24.1, 50.33 pace, was passed by all three in the final 80 metres, with Smith getting lby in the last stride on the inside when Robinson drifted off the rail and left enough room for Smith to dive through.

Hazel Clark employed similar front-running tactics in the women’s 800 final, but to much better effect. Clark hauled the field around the first lap in 26.6, 56.89, and stayed in front all the way. Down the home stretch everyone was stiff-legged and no-one could change gears into a sprint, with Clark winning in 1:59.82, Alice Schmidt second in 2:00.46, and Kameisha Bennett edging icole Teter, 2:01.20 to 2:01.30.

Lagat makes 5000m victory look comfortable

The men’s 5000 metres final was won by 2007 World champion Bernard Lagat rather comfortably in 13:27.47, comfortably because he coasted the last lap in 58 seconds comparted to his 52.3 in Osaka. Behind him were Matt Tegenkamp (fourth in Osaka) in 13:29.68 and Ian Dobson in 13:29.76.

"I have been training for this meet for so long, the Eugene '08 Olympic Trials. I have been looking forward to it and it is very exciting for me,” commented Lagat.

"The atmosphere was amazing. The fans here are incredible. You could hear them as you crossed the finish line, and we just had so much support tonight. After the 800, the crowd was already excited and the energy was so good that I knew we would keep that excitement up for our race."

"The Olympics are the biggest meet. Everyone dreams about going to the Olympics, and to be here on Team USA is unbelievable. I'm going to take the same hunger I had in 2004 and try and bring home the gold," confirmed Lagat.

Kara Patterson of Purdue won the women's Javelin Throw in an Olympic Trials record. The 22-year-old posted a best mark of 58.44m.

Wariner, Merritt, Richards, Wineberg “save it for Thursday”

There were no surprises in the men's and women's 400m semi-final rounds, setting up finals on Thursday, after two off days of competition.

In the men's 400, the second semi-final Olympic and world champion Jeremy Wariner and World silver medallist LaShawn Merritt were in the same, second heat. Wariner won in 44.66 with Merritt second in 44.76, neither was using full exertion. Reggie Witherspoon in a time of 44.99 took the other semi.

"I felt a lot better today than I did yesterday,” confirmed Wariner. “Now I've got two days off, and I'm just going to stay off my feet as much as possible and rest up. Probably sleep a lot."

"I felt good. All we're trying to do is qualify and get a preferred lane. We (Wariner and LaShawn Merritt) weren't trying to battle and kill each other; we're just trying to make the final," said Wariner.

Golden League Jackpot winner Sanya Richards took the second heat with ease in 50.75, while her anticipated main challenger for Thursday’s final Mary Wineberg took the first in 50.57.

"I felt good,” said Richards. “I wanted to execute the first 300 meters and relax for the last 100. At about 320 I saw on the Jumbotron (big screen) that I had enough room and felt comfortable."

"When I saw the time I thought that maybe if I would have pushed it, it could have been a sub-50 second race. But, I'll save that for Thursday."

James Dunaway for the IAAF

Click here for RESULTS

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NOTE - Tuesday (1) and Wednesday (2) are rest days at the Trials

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