Owens runs wind-legal 10.27 to open schedule and closes first day by clocking 46.12 for fifth-highest midway total in NCAA history with 4,483 points, with Cal’s McMorris at 4,444; Washington’s Eikeng leads Stanford’s Jones in heptathlon

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

WALNUT, Calif. – Whether Ayden Owens can become only the eighth collegiate decathlete in history to surpass the 8,400-point mark still rests on his ability to complete five more events at the 62nd Mt. SAC Relays Presented by Nike.

But the Arkansas standout enjoyed one of the most impressive opening days by any collegiate competitor Wednesday at Hilmer Lodge Stadium, highlighted by two all-time NCAA decathlon bests in the 100-meter dash and 400 meters.

Owens began with a wind-legal 10.27 in the 100 and capped his first-day schedule by clocking 46.12 in the 400 to take the lead with 4,483 points.

Owens’ 400 effort eclipsed the 46.28 performance achieved by Oregon’s Ashton Eaton at the 2010 NCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships. Even more impressive was the fact that Hakim McMorris of Cal clocked 46.36 and Austin West of Iowa ran 46.41 in the same section.

The 100-meter mark run by Owens improved on the previous all-time collegiate decathlon mark established by Kansas State’s Mantas Silkauskas, who ran a wind-aided 10.34 at the 2009 Big 12 Outdoor Championships.

Owens, who entered the competition with a personal-best and Puerto Rican record 8,238 points from last year representing Michigan at the Big Ten Championships, accumulated the fifth-highest total on opening day in collegiate history, trailing only the 4,516 points amassed by Texas A&M’s Lindon Victor in 2017, Eaton’s 4,500 points at the 2010 NCAA finals, Tim Duckworth of Kentucky scoring 4,496 in 2018 and Eaton recording 4,494 at the 2010 Texas Relays.

McMorris remained within striking distance of Owens throughout the day, finishing with 4,444 points. West relied on the strength of his 400 performance to accumulate 4,343 points.

Washington’s Ida Eikeng secured the women’s heptathlon lead following four events with 3,598 points, just ahead of Stanford’s Allie Jones with 3,552 points and Colorado’s Avery McMullen at 3,459 points.