Walton Wins Decathlon at Kansas Relays

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Nebraska track and field sophomore Cody Walton won the decathlon with a career-best 7,327 points at the Kansas Relays on Thursday.

Walton took first place in the 110-meter hurdles (14.58) and javelin (212-10), while finishing second in the pole vault (14-9) and third in the discus (121-10). His 7,327 points ranks No. 6 in school history and puts him third in the Big Ten this season.

He won the event title by 184 points over teammate Guy Fenske, who amassed a personal-best 7,143 points and now ranks fourth in the conference. Fenske was second in the discus (134-10) and javelin (186-1), and third in the pole vault (14-5 1/4).

Husker freshman Cale Wagner, competing unattached, finished in fourth place with 6,781 points.

A group of Huskers also competed in field events in the afternoon. Sarah Firestone won the javelin with a season-best throw of 181-8 (55.39m) on her final attempt to increase her Big Ten leading mark. Danie Plank was third with a personal-best 169-2 (51.57m). 

Alice Akers took fifth in the hammer throw with a mark of 170-9 (52.06m). For the men, Jackson Ingram was fifth in the hammer throw, throwing a personal-best 182-7 (55.65m), while Jake Pinion placed seventh at 180-4 (54.97m). 

In the women's heptathlon, Morgan Pieri finished 10th with 4,079 points. Lamisha Simmons was 11th with 4,060 points, and Hailey Luken finished 13th at 3,933.

The meet resumes on Friday with running events and field events.