Doug Osland sets M60 decathlon AR in outsoaring a big field

Vault specialist Doug (at right) was on a 2011 medal stand with Bubba Sparks (left) and Gary Hunter.

Vaulter Doug (at right) was on a 2011 medal stand with Bubba Sparks (left) and Gary Hunter.

Masters decathletes are lucky to find competition in their age group, so Doug Osland was especially fortunate over the weekend in Texas. Ten entered the M60 decathlon at the USATF National Masters Combined Events Championships at UT San Antonio. Eight finished. And with a stellar 7638 points, Doug demolished the listed American record of 7287 by Emil Pawlik at 2003 Puerto Rico worlds. (The WR is 8123 by German vaulter Wolfgang Ritte in 2014). Doug’s marks were 13.12 for 100, 5.25 (17-2 3/4) in the long jump, 11.95 (39-2 1/2) in the shot, 1.61 (5-3 1/4) in the high jump and 64.72 in the 400 for Day 1. He ran the hurdles in 17.05, threw the discus 40.55 (133-0), vaulted 3.60 (11-9 3/4), threw the jav 35.49 (116-5) and gutted out a 1500 in 6:44.19. So that made four records — the WR heps by Rita and Christel and the equal-AR high jump by Christel. Forty-one men entered the dec, with 34 finishing — from M30 Ty Richert to M85 Jerry Donley. (See results here.) Doug isn’t entered in the Lyon dec. But he’s earned a rest. Congrats to all!

Lyon entries for M60 dec:

Heinz Baseda Germany 6,550
Herbert Brand Germany
Louis Clautour France
Clyde Crowl United States of America
Sergio Emilio de Pretis Italy 5,736
Marek Grzyb Poland
Hans Peter Hehn Germany 4,000
Roland Hepperle Germany
Tagir Ibragimov Russia 5,000
Russell Jacquet-Acea United States of America 6,608
Hermann Jaksche Germany NM
Donald Keller United States of America
Aavo Kergand Estonia 6,200
Gotthold Knecht Germany 3,352
Gerd Lipinski Germany 3,626
Sylwester Lorenz Poland
Roberto Mancini Italy
Emile Marinier France
David McConnell Australia NM
David McLawhorn United States of America
Francisco Menchon Spain
Evgenii Mikeev Russia
Alexandru Miron Romania 4,800
Hideshi Nagata Japan 4,420
Stephen Nelson Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Klaus-Peter Neuendorf Germany
Al Nigrisoli Italy 4,170
Manfred Nink Dr. Germany 5,032
Paul Oakes Great Britain and Northern Ireland NM
Jon Sigurdur Olafsson Iceland
Jiri Ondrusek Czech Republic 3,600
Peter Pach Germany 5,815
Pino Pilotto Switzerland
Valeriy Plotnikov Russia 6,400
Klaus Reiß Germany
Reinhard Rhaue Germany
Guy Rongere France
Lluis Rosell Carrascosa Spain 4,580
Jean-Claude Roux France 3,800
Virginio Soffientini Italy
Ivo Strnad Czech Republic 5,800
Richard Watson United States of America 3,472
Joachim Wolff Germany
Franz Zehetmayer Austria

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June 29, 2015

6 Responses

  1. Roger Vergin - June 30, 2015

    The conditions were hot and humid in San Antonio, nonetheless it was a great pleasure participating with the intrepid group of men and women in the USATF Masters Combined Event Championship for 2015.

    The track and field facility at the University of Texas at San Antonio is magnificent. It is pristine, as if construction were completed yesterday. There are four long jump pits, two spacious venues for each of the throws, and grass so perfect that several people commented they thought it was artificial turf. I got down on my knees to confirm it was the real stuff.

    My thanks go to Seth Brower, Bill Murray and their crews for putting on a fine meet.

    Congratulations to Rita Hanscom and Christel Donnelly for surpassing the world records and to Doug Osland for surpassing the American record.

    I had a nice experience that falls into the category of strange coincidence that I would like to pass on to my fellow decathletes. Flying home after the meet, I changed planes in Houston. As I got in line to board, standing directly in front of me was one of the greatest decathletes of all time – Bryan Clay, gold medalist at the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, silver medalist at the 2004 Olympics at Athens, and gold medalist at the 2008 Olympics at Beijing.

    He was busy talking with his wife, tending his three charming young children, and watching live the competition at the Olympic trials in Eugene on his phone. Though I hesitated to interrupt him, I knew I would regret it if I missed the opportunity to meet him.

    So, I did interrupt and, to excuse my intrusion, said that I had won a gold medal in the decathlon that day myself. He was gracious and I had a wonderful conversation with Bryan and his wife about the decathlon and why a guy old enough to be their children’s great-grandfather would be doing the decathlon.

    The decathlon is indeed a struggle, but it is an honor to be part of “we few, we precious few, we band of brothers” who form the decathlon fraternity.

  2. Barry Warmerdam - June 30, 2015

    Very impressive performance, Doug. Congratulations!

  3. Brian Coushay - June 30, 2015

    Doug- you are a superstar!! You looked AWESOME in all events. Great Job!!

  4. Burr Daly - June 30, 2015

    Great job, Roger. You get around. We last saw you in Florida at the Florida Senior Games along with your competitor, Buzz Porter.

  5. George Patterson - July 1, 2015

    Congrats Doug, you inspire me to keep on pushing, striving.

  6. Ken Stone - July 1, 2015

    Doug, Rita and Christel mentioned in USATF news release on Justin Gatlin as Athlete of the Week: http://www.usatf.org/News/Justin-Gatlin-named-USATF-Athlete-of-the-Week-afte.aspx

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