Michigan
Bulldog Decathlon/Heptathlon
Decathlete Bastien in Seventh after Day One in Athens
4/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Men's Track & Field
April 6, 2016
» Bastien positioned himself in seventh place after day one of competition in Athens.
» With his 3,916 points through five events, Bastien is well on his way to besting his previous career high of 6,823 (set in 2014 at Samford University), and the U-M record of 7,412 is within his reach as well.
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Site: Athens, Ga. (Spec Towns Track)
Event: Bulldog Decathlon/Heptathlon (Day 1 of 2)
U-M Team Result: No team scoring
Next U-M Event: Thursday, April 7 -- at Bulldog Decathlon/Heptathlon - Day 2 (Athens, Ga.), 1:30 p.m.
ATHENS, Ga. -- Senior/junior Steven Bastien of the University of Michigan men's track and field team began competition at his first-ever decathlon as a Wolverine on Wednesday (April 6), competing at the Bulldog Decathlon/Heptathlon meet at the University of Georgia's Spec Towns Track facility.
Through the first five events of his first decathlon since 2014, Bastien totaled a career-best 3,916 points, more than 100 points higher than the day-one score of 3,794 that he posted on the day he totaled his career-best performance two seasons ago. On one previous occasion, Bastien matched today's score of 3,916, but he did not complete the decathlon in that instance.
Wednesday's competition saw the 19-man field compete in fair conditions, with slightly cool temperatures but a dry, mostly sunny afternoon. Two athletes did not finish day one, leaving 17 remaining, but the competition remained fierce. Bastien placed particularly well in running events, with fourth-place finishes in the opening and closing events of the day, the 100- and 400-meter dashes, and also jumped more than 23 feet in the long jump.
He opened with the 100-meter dash, timing 10.93 across the line, .08 seconds shy of his collegiate PR, for 876 points. In the long jump, his best attempt came in at 7.05 meters (23-1.5 ft.) for 826 points.
Bastien launched throw of 12.13 meters (39-9.75 ft.) in the shot put before moving on to the high jump, where he cleared 1.94 meters (6-4.25 ft.) for 749 points.
He closed out day one running 400 meters with a time of 49.55, one of four sub-50 second times in the field for another 835 points.
Bastien is well onto his way of topping his collegiate PR (6,823 points), and he is also on pace to break the program record of 7,412 points held by Kurt Reichenbach (2013).
The field, which includes 19 athletes from around the nation, is made up of some of the best competitors in the NCAA and beyond it. Among the post-collegians competing are Gonzalo Barriohlet (Under Armour), Mike Morrison, Robert Rohner, Tommy Barrineau (Finland) and Gael Querin (France).
Bastien resumes competition in Athens on Thursday (April 7) at 1:30 p.m., competing in the 110-meter hurdles. He will wrap up competition with the discus, pole vault, javelin and 1,500-meter run.
Communications Contact: Chad Shepard
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