KU junior gets fifth in decathlon

Friday, April 17, 2009

breakbox

1. Joey Schwecke (Minnesota) 6,807 2. Benjamin Parish (unattached) 6,622 3. Phillip Horn (Missouri Southern) 6,609 4. Garrett Wankel (Minnesota) 6,551 5. Jacob Breth (Kansas) 6,320

Kansas’ Corbin Kratovil didn’t finish due to injury.

Freshman Corbin Kratovil wanted to kick off day two of the decathlon in the Kansas Relays with a strong performance in one of his best events: the 110-meter hurdles. Unfortunately, that event got the best of him.

During the race, Kratovil hit some hurdles, causing so much pain in his left knee that he opted not to finish his first decathlon.

“I really wanted just to finish the whole 10 events and I thought that would be kind of cool,” Kratovil said.

After the hurdles, Kratovil decided to compete in the discus throw, earning sixth place with a throw of 35.40 meters, and the pole vault, earning eighth place with a jump of 3.27 meters, before dropping out altogether because of his knee problems.

“I was hoping for it to get better, but it didn’t so I just called it quits after I made a certain height that I wanted,” Kratovil said.

With Kratovil out, junior Jacob Breth was the Jayhawks’ sole representation in the decathlon.

Although they didn’t continue their friendly rivalry, Kratovil wasn’t too disappointed about it.

“I’m just glad he’s healthy enough that he can finish,” he said.

Breth had a personal best in discus, earning third place with a throw of 38.99 meters, before having to face his worst event of the day, the pole vault, where he finished near the bottom of the standings.

“It wasn’t that bad, but I did jump a foot under what I should’ve jumped,” Breth said. “I switched poles right before one of the bars, which ended in my downfall.”

However Breth bounced back in the final event, the 1500-meter run, taking second place in 4:38.67.

“I’m pretty excited about it, I just wished it was a victory though,” Breth said.

Breth finished out the decathlon in fifth place with 6,320 points.

“It could have been better, but I’m happy with that,” Breth said. “It’s definitely not for everyone but I enjoy it.”

The next time the two will compete in a decathlon is at the Big 12 Conference Championships, which will be May 15-17. Kratovil and Breth agreed agreed that placing in the top 10 in that decathlon was their goal.

“I think I have a pretty good chance, I definitely learned some things about myself from this relays that I’m going to work on for Big 12’s,” Breth said.

— — Edited by Liz Schubauer

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