Jeremy Taiwo celebrates his clutch third attempt make at 7-2 1/4 in the high jump.
Taiwo Sitting Fifth In Decathlon After Day One
August 17, 2016 | Track & Field
RIO DE JANEIRO – A long-awaited first day at the Olympic Games proved worth the wait for former Husky Jeremy Taiwo today, as he put up an impressive point total through the first five events at the Olympic Stadium in Brazil. Taiwo proved himself to be the top multi-event high jumper in the world, as he won the fourth event with a clearance of 7-feet, 2.25-inches.
On the Olympic stage for the first time, the former Pac-10 decathlon champion and All-American was right near his personal-bests in all of the five events today. The high jump win provided the day's biggest thrill, as Taiwo was the only jumper to clear 7-2 ¼, and he did so on his third and final attempt.
The Renton, Wash. native opened up in the 100-meters, and was 20th overall with a time of 11.01 seconds. He then climbed up to 15th in the standings with a long jump of 24-5 ½. The shot put went well, as Taiwo was just a fraction of an inch off his lifetime-best, throwing 48-11 ½ and that raised him up to ninth overall.
There was a break of over four hours until the high jump competition began. A former World Record holder in the heptathlon high jump, and coming off one of the best marks of his career at the Olympic Trials back in July, Taiwo's success in the high jump came as no surprise. His win there jumped him up to third-place after four events. After another hour of rest, the men came back to end the day with the 400-meters. Taiwo ran 48.78 seconds there, which was 12th in the field, and just .02 seconds off what he ran at the Trials.
All told, Taiwo finished the day in fifth-place, with 4,419 points. Day two will start bright and early by Seattle standards, with the 110m hurdles at 5:30 a.m. That will be followed by the discus, pole vault, javelin, and the 1,500-meters, which will be contested in the evening session at approximately 5:45 p.m. Pacific.
On the Olympic stage for the first time, the former Pac-10 decathlon champion and All-American was right near his personal-bests in all of the five events today. The high jump win provided the day's biggest thrill, as Taiwo was the only jumper to clear 7-2 ¼, and he did so on his third and final attempt.
The Renton, Wash. native opened up in the 100-meters, and was 20th overall with a time of 11.01 seconds. He then climbed up to 15th in the standings with a long jump of 24-5 ½. The shot put went well, as Taiwo was just a fraction of an inch off his lifetime-best, throwing 48-11 ½ and that raised him up to ninth overall.
There was a break of over four hours until the high jump competition began. A former World Record holder in the heptathlon high jump, and coming off one of the best marks of his career at the Olympic Trials back in July, Taiwo's success in the high jump came as no surprise. His win there jumped him up to third-place after four events. After another hour of rest, the men came back to end the day with the 400-meters. Taiwo ran 48.78 seconds there, which was 12th in the field, and just .02 seconds off what he ran at the Trials.
All told, Taiwo finished the day in fifth-place, with 4,419 points. Day two will start bright and early by Seattle standards, with the 110m hurdles at 5:30 a.m. That will be followed by the discus, pole vault, javelin, and the 1,500-meters, which will be contested in the evening session at approximately 5:45 p.m. Pacific.
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