Decathlete Tim Duckworth trains through Jim Click after leading through four events...

TUCSON, Arizona--Washington volunteer coach Tim Duckworth (photo by Paul Merca), who led the field of sixteen decathletes through four events, pulled up shortly before the 300 meter mark of the 400 and dropped all the way down to 14th position after five events in the decathlon at the Jim Click Combined Events meet at Drachman Stadium hosted by the University of Arizona.

The day did not start well for the University of Kentucky alum and 2018 NCAA decathlon champion, as he ran 11.06 to finish fourth in the 100 meters.

Duckworth, who is currently ranked 18th in the world in the decathlon according to the World Athletics ranking system, mentioned that he stumbled slightly and that he and the other runners in the heat were expecting a recall from the starter that never came.

With that, he felt that any chance of getting the Olympic standard of 8350 points were out the window.

He bounced back from the 100 to win the long jump at 25-3.25 (7.70m), then threw a personal best of 42-2 (12.85m) in the shot put.

He proceeded to win the high jump with a clearance of 6-11.5 (2.12m), but it was at the next height of 7-0.5 (2.15m) that he got himself in trouble, when he rolled up on his right (plant) foot.

Duckworth pulled up near the 300 meter mark, collecting no points.

Cal's Hakim McMorris currently leads the decathlon with 4146 points, with defending Pac-12 champ and two-time All American Max Vollmer of Oregon second at 4004 points.

Parker Kennedy of Washington stands eighth at the break with 3561 points, while Husky freshman Ollie Thorner dropped all the way down to 15th from sixth with 2901 points.  

Both Thorner and Duckworth did not intend to finish the 400.

Duckworth, who competed last weekend in Chula Vista, intends to compete in a decathlon in a few weeks back in Chula Vista, and that he was using the Jim Click meet as a way to prepare for the meet in California.

In the heptathlon,  Lyndsey Lopes of the Huskies currently sits in fifth-place in a very strong field with a four-event total of 3303 points. Junior Hannah Rusnak is eighth with 3,257, as Kansas State's Lauren Taubert leads after four events with 3516 points.

Lopes took fourth overall in the 100 hurdles with a time of 13.81 seconds, while Rusnak was eighth with a time of 14.40. In the high jump, Rusnak was fourth with a make of 5-6.5 (1.69m), and Lopes cleared 5-5.25 (1.66m). Rusnak was fourth overall again in the shot put at 38-10.5 (11.85m) and Lopes was eighth in that event at 35-7.25 (10.85m). In the 200-meters to wrap up the day, Lopes took second overall in 24.78 despite a headwind for 907 points. Rusnak was seventh in a time of 25.50.

The Jim Click Combined Events resumes Friday at 10 am with the decathlon 110 hurdles, and at 11:30 am with the heptathlon long jump.

Results of day 1 of the Jim Click Combined Events are available here.

HERE'S WHAT'S HAPPENING ELSEWHERE...

Washington State heads south to Los Angeles for Friday's Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner Kersee Invitational hosted by UCLA at Drake Stadium, while Western Washington University heads to Monmouth, Oregon for the John Knight Twilight meet hosted by Western Oregon. Seattle Pacific will compete in a dual meet against Seattle University Friday at West Seattle Stadium.

Washington State, along with Gonzaga, Eastern Washington and Central Washington, will have athletes competing at the War XII Meet in Spokane, hosted by Spokane Community College, while Western Washington and Saint Martin's will send athletes to Tacoma for the Pacific Lutheran Invitational.

Finally, Washington's sprints, jumps and throws crew will compete in Saturday's Jim Click Shootout at Drachman Stadium, hosted by the University of Arizona. paulmerca.blogspot.com will be on hand to cover the Jim Click Shootout.

Please refer to each school's track & field website for details on their meets. 

NOTE: The sports information offices of the University of Arizona, University of Washington, and Finished Results contributed to this report.

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