AUSTIN, Texas – Stanford fifth-year senior decathlete Harrison Williams used a strong 400 meters to pull into second overall on the final event of the first day at the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Wednesday.
Williams, with 4,266 points, trails Georgia sophomore Johannes Erm, by 79 going into the final day of the two-day competition at Mike A. Myers Stadium at the University of Texas. Williams, the NCAA indoor heptathlon winner, is seeking to become Stanford's first decathlon champion, in the 50th year the NCAA has staged the event.
"I feel really good," said Williams said, who has finished fourth and fifth at this meet. "I'm in a good position. Johannes is having an incredible meet, but I am too. It's going to be a really fun battle tomorrow."
Steven Fahy. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
The only other Cardinal to compete Wednesday was fifth-year senior Steven Fahy, who showed he is on top of his game by winning his section of the 3,000 steeplechase in 8:41.60 to qualify No. 1 for Friday's final.
Fahy, the two-time Pac-12 champ and 2018 NCAA third-place finisher, ran a smart and comfortable race. He appeared in complete control as he slowly moved up the field and took the lead from Indiana's Daniel Michalski as they came off the final water jump. Fahy smoothly pulled away.
In the decathlon, Williams is 74 points ahead of the pace he set in scoring a lifetime best and Stanford record 8,112 at the Bryan Clay Invitational in April, when he finished second to USC freshman Ayden Owens's 8,130. Those remain the two highest scores by collegians this year. But Owens essentially took himself out of this competition by failing to clear a height in the high jump.
Typically, Williams best day is Day Two, which includes his two best events, the 110 hurdles and pole vault. He rarely leads a major competition after the first day, so second place is about as good as he could have hoped for.
Harrison Williams in the 100. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
The decathlon began in the rain for almost everyone except Williams. Because of a fear of thunderstorms later, the competition was moved up 2 ½ hours to a noon local start. The first section of the 100 was conducted in a downpour. The rain stopped for the second section, won by Williams in 10.88, and then began again for the third section.
Williams was fourth overall in the 100 and maintained his place through the second the long jump. His 24-0 ¼ (7.32m) opening jump came from the behind the takeoff board and seemed to signal more on his final two attempts. However, Williams didn't get the same lift on his second or third tries and did not improve.
"I was fortunate to put together a really good jump on the first attempt and I think I might have tried a little too hard on the second and third attempts -- both just kind of collapsed on the take off," Williams said. "I definitely left a lot of points out there."
The lead changed hands for the first time when Erm leaped 25-4 (7.72m) to move in front, with Owens dropping from first to third and Williams 93 points behind Erm.
Williams knows that the key to the decathlon is having a short memory. You can't stew over poor results because your mind has to immediately refocus to the next event.
Harrison Williams. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
The third event, the shot put, signaled a turning point for Williams. He fouled on his first and threw 43-10 ½ (13.37m) on his second, but on his final attempt, Williams uncorked a 45-5 (13.84m), just three inches off his best. It was a difference of about 40 points and enabled Williams to move past Owens into third, after being in danger of falling further off the pace.
"I was bombing some really far throws in warmups, and then in the competition, I fouled the first one and had to be safe on the second," he said. "I was a happy to get a solid throw on the last attempt, and I was really hoping to get a little more, but it definitely took me into the high jump with pretty good momentum."
Facing a third attempt at 6-7 (2.01m), Williams pounded his hands on the runway. He clearly wanted it and indeed cleared the bar for 813 points. He was unable to make the next height, taking three good shots at a personal record 6-8 ¼ (2.04m), and took 13 jumps in all.
"I really wanted to PR," Williams said. "I knew I had some good practices coming in. I know I was in position, especially after I jumped 2.03 at indoor NCAA's to match my PR and we were going to go one centimeter higher. I was really excited to hopefully get that, but I just couldn't pull it off."
Harrison Williams/Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
With a nearly two hour break until the 400, Williams recharged to finish the day with a 47.19, the second-fastest time of the day and his fastest since he ran 46.66 at the 2016 U.S. Olympic trials.
It'll take more great efforts Thursday at Williams shoots for the crown.
As he left the track Wednesday, he relayed his plans for the rest of the night:
"Just keep hydrating, eat a bunch of food. Hopefully, get some nice sleep. Rest, recover, and get ready for Day Two."
Harrison Williams, after clearing 6-7 in the high jump. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
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NCAA Championships
At University of Texas, Mike A. Myers Stadium
Wednesday's Stanford results
Men
3,000 steeplechase semifinals – 1, Steven Fahy (Stanford) 8:41.60.
Decathlon (after the first of two days) – 1, Johannes Erm (Georgia) 4,345; 2, Harrison Williams (Stanford) 4,266; 3, T.J. Lawson (Kent State) 4,216.
Harrison Williams (event, place in event, mark, points, place in competition):
First day: 100 – 4, 10.85, 894 (4); Long jump -- 4, 24-0 ¼ (7.32m), 891 (4); Shot put -- 9, 45-5 (13.84m), 719 (3); High jump – 3, 6-7 (2.01m), 813 (3); 400 – 2, 47.19, 813 (2). First-day total: 4,266.
Steven Fahy. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com.
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Stanford's schedule
Thursday
11 a.m. PT (1 p.m. CT): Decathlon 110 hurdles (Section 5: Harrison Williams).
11:50 a.m. PT (1:50 p.m. CT): Decathlon discus (Flight 1: Harrison Williams).
1 p.m. PT (3 p.m. CT): Decathlon pole vault (Flight 1: Harrison Williams).
3:30 p.m. PT (5:30 p.m. CT): Decathlon javelin (Flight 1: Harrison Williams).
5:16 p.m. PT (7:16 p.m. CT): Women's 1,500 semifinal (Heat 1: Ella Donaghu, Jessica Lawson; top 5, plus 2 advance).
5:30 p.m. PT (7:30 p.m. CT): Women's pole vault final (Kaitlyn Merritt).
6:15 p.m. PT (8:15 p.m. CT): Women's javelin final (Flight 1: Virginia Miller; Flight 2: Jenna Gray, Mackenzie Little).
7:26 p.m. PT (9:26 p.m. CT): Decathlon 1,500 (Harrison Williams).
7:38 p.m. PT (9:38 p.m. CT): Women's 10,000 final (Abbie McNulty).
Friday
5:54 p.m. PT (7:54 p.m. CT): Men's 3,000 steeplechase final (Steven Fahy).
7:25 p.m. PT (9:25 p.m. CT): Men's 5,000 final (Grant Fisher, Thomas Ratcliffe).
Saturday
3 p.m. PT (5 p.m. CT): Women's high jump final (Rachel Reichenbach).
3:05 p.m. PT (5:05 p.m. CT): Women's discus (Flight 1: Jaimi Salone).
3:41 p.m. PT (5:41 p.m. CT): Women's 1,500 final.
5:25 p.m. PT (7:25 p.m. CT): Women's 5,000 final (Fiona O'Keeffe).
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Broadcast windows (all time Pacific)
Thursday
11 a.m.-8:30 p.m.: ESPN3
5-6 p.m.: ESPNU
6-8:30 p.m.: ESPN2
Friday
12:30-7:30 p.m.: ESPN3
5:30-8 p.m.: ESPN
Saturday
11:30 a.m.-5:15 p.m.: ESPN3
3:30-6 p.m.: ESPN2