Jaspers Sit Second and Fourth In IC4A Decathlon

PRINCETON, N.J. – After the first day of the IC4A Outdoor Championships, Tom Bechert (Munich, Germany) and Felix Siljeback-Larsen (Vasteras, Sweden) of the Manhattan College men's track & field team sat second and fourth, respectively, in the decathlon.  Bechert sits just 49 points out of the lead with a score of 3945, while Siljeback-Larsen has a total of 3711 points after five events at PrincetonUniversity's Weaver Stadium.  Brown's Evan Weinstock is the day one leader, collecting 3994 points in the first five events.

Both Jaspers got off to a good start in the 100 meters.  Bechert tied for fifth in the event with a time of 11.31 seconds, picking up 793 points, while Siljeback-Larsen earned 776 points for his 11.39-second clocking.  Siljeback-Larsen then long jumped 7.13 meters (23 feet, 4¾ inches), just one centimeter behind Brown's Evan Weinstock, to add 845 points to his total.  Bechert earned 795 points in the long jump with a leap of 6.92 m (22'8½).  The third event was the shot put, where Bechert had the best mark of the competition.  He registered 722 points with his 13.90 m (45'7¼)-effort.  Siljeback-Larsen, meanwhile, received 603 points for an 11.94 m (39'2¼) throw. 

At the Larry Ellis Invitational at the same facility last month, Bechert missed out on a school-record by no-heighting in the high jump.  He made sure that wouldn't happen again on Friday.  Bechert was one of only two jumpers to clear two meters, leaping 2.02 m (6'7½) to earn 822 points.  Siljeback-Larsen registered 687 points with a clearance at 1.87 m (6'1½). 

In the final event of the day, the 400 meters, Bechert and Siljeback-Larsen both cleared the 800-point threshold.  Bechert's time of 50.04 seconds was the second-fastest of the competition and good for 813 points, while Siljeback-Larsen was third in a time of 50.32 points, which gave him 800 additional points.