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Eaton will need it all: consistency in the running and throwing events, improvement in throwing events, especially the javelin, and the a blazing 1,500. And he's capable of achieving all--right now.

Christoph, here's the answer to your question, using the 100% = world record system: 100 METERS Decathlete 1: 10. 50 (904) Decathlete 2: 10. 99 (853) ‐ 51 points behind LONG JUMP Decathlete 1: 7. 35 (821), 1, 725 points Decathlete 2: 7. 80 (872), 1, 725 points ‐ tie SHOT PUT Decathlete 1: 15. 33 (663), 2, 388 points Deacthlete 2: 14. 17 (613), 2, 338 points ‐ …

Scott, I covered this point in a 2001 article I wrote for Decathlon2000. While my favorite all ‐time decathlete is Sebrle because of his quality, endurance, and consistency, he would not be the world record holder (8022) using my suggestion. Neither would Dvorak (8029) or O'Brien (8022) or Thompson (8038). Since electronic, to ‐the ‐hundredth ‐second scoring, I …

Dec Fan, I'm not sure if I agree with you in this particular case, although I always have leaned in that direction. But still, who cares? Let's use your numbers with my suggested scoring system: Decathlete A: 100: 10. 20 (935) LJ: 8. 10 (905) Decathlete B: 100: 10. 30 (925) LJ: 8. 00 (894) Decathlete A is winning, 1840 to 1819 Decathlete A: 100: 11. 20 (831) LJ: 6. 60 (735) …

Old Timer, to say the suggested system rewards the less able is matter of semantics. In your very example, you say the pole vaulters would be comparatively poorly rewarded; however, you can just as easily say that the high jump is too highly rewarded. But what is the sense in comparing one event to the other? Compare the event to itself. Even your example proves my point. A 4' high jump …

B. J. , I believe the system is broken, so it should be fixed. No one in the world ‐ ‐not any of us, not an IAAF official, not any decathlete ‐ ‐can explain coherently and comprehensibly how the scoring system works. Look, in soccer, you kick a ball into the net, and you're winning 1 ‐0; in baseball, you run around all four bases safely, and you're …

Christoph, let me address each of your points: 1. You write, What matters is how much is the difference between 2. 00m and 2. 15 (HJ) or between 14. 50m and 16. 00m (SP)? I see no contradiction in what you and I are saying here. 2. You write, What matters is, is it easier or more difficult to improve by 16 seconds in the 1500m or by 0. 45 in the 100m or by 6. 60m in JT or . . . …

Jessica, two points: 1. Agreed that the scores change when the records change, and this fact is the beauty of such a system. We are always measuring decathletes against the best ever. 2. The decathletes do not need a say. They need a fair system. Did the sprinters have a say when the false start rule changed? Did the long jumpers have a say when the decision was to measure their jump …

Jessica, what makes anyone think that 1. 96 in the high jump is not relative to 18. 50 in the shot put? I realize no one out there today does not throw 18. 50 and many jump 1. 96, but the fact is that most decathletes do measure up better against the elite athletes in running and jumping than they do in throwing. Look at it this way, using my system with a truly possible scenario: Let's …

The problem with mathematical formulas based on sliding scales—no matter how many sampling decathlete scores you use—is that it shows a preference for some events over others. I still don’t understand why we can’t eliminate the point system and simply do percentages of world records. Example: Event Record Mark Percentage 100 9. 58 11. 50 800 LJ 8. 95 7. 16 800 SP …

Joe, what you wrote is the stuff of an excellent article on the decathlon—in both content and spirit. You could reshape it into a piece for publication of great interest in any of the track and field periodicals. I appreciate the insight, especially your comment, “I would like to submit that maybe it is fear that plays a stronger role. Fear of the unknown, fear of pain, fear of many …

Thanks for the thoughtful comments, Trey. Your response got to me to think of what a great idea it would be for you and other competitive decathletes to announce their schedules on Decathlon2000 so that fans like me can keep a more focused eye on the action. Janek, could you run a Forum just for decathletes to post their plans, results, etc. ? Trey, all the best to you and Donovan …

Trey, You are a world ‐class decathlete, as I’ve already mentioned, so I highly value your opinion on this point. I also would not be surprised at a world record by Bryan Clay this year—but he would have to accomplish it with a respectable 1, 500, based on his own standards, as I’m sure you would agree. When you say, “You’ve obviously never competed in more than 4 …

Christoph, OK, you’re right. I should criticize O’Brien and Huffins for the same reason—and privately I have. If O’Brien had replicated his 1990, 1991, and 1992 decathlon 1, 500 meter runs in the 1994 and 1998 Goodwill Games and in the 1996 U. S. Championships, then he’d have a better personal record and still have the top ten combined decathlon scores in history. Huffins …

B. J. , We hear all sportscasters and decathletes themselves saying that the decathlon is not so much a competition against an opponent as it is against the clock and measuring tape. If that's so, then I should have every reason to expect a decathlete to compete against his own PRs. My point is simple: If El Guerrouj consistently ran 1, 500 ‐meters in 4: 00, I would be an …

Here are my reactions to Trey Hardee’s and Chad Smith’s comments. First, Mr. Hardee: Your season in your final year as a college decathlete has been amazing. At the young age of 22, you have improved your heptathlon score (6, 208) by nearly 400 points—third best in the world and best among Americans this year. Your American collegiate decathlon record (8, 465) was a leap of more …