Nytes soars into decathlon lead at Bryan Clay Invitational

Wednesday, April 18

Azusa, CA

11 AM

Wisconsin Badgers

Bryan Clay Invite

Trent Nytes at the 2017 Big Ten Championships

Photo by: Walt Middleton

Nytes soars into decathlon lead at Bryan Clay Invitational

April 18, 2018 | Men's Track & Field

Junior sets meet record in decathlon high jump to lead Badgers on first day in California

AZUSA, Calif. – The Wisconsin men's track and field program has produced several great decathletes over the years, but no athlete has done what junior Trent Nytes accomplished Wednesday at the Bryan Clay Invitational.

Nytes had a career day in the high jump, setting the decathlon high jump meet record with a massive personal best clearance of 7-2 1/4 (2.19m). The Kaukana, Wisconsin, native is one of only 13 Badgers to clear seven feet outdoors and he broke his previous decathlon high jump school record of 6-11 1/2 (2.12m).

In addition, Nytes is one of 33 athletes in the NCAA and one of only six athletes in the Big Ten Conference to clear seven feet in the high jump this season. His mark currently ranks third-best in the Big Ten.

Nytes is also the 13th Badger to clear 7 feet in the outdoor high jump and first to do so in a decathlon competition #OnWisconsin pic.twitter.com/LWF5h2UZhg
— Wisconsin Track & Field (@BadgerTrackXC) April 19, 2018

Prior to his record-setting performance in the high jump Nytes finished the 100 meters in 11.08 seconds and match his personal best mark of 23-11 3/4 (7.31m) in the long jump. Next, Nytes earned a PR in the shot put with a mark of 45-8 1/2 (13.93m). Finally, Nytes crossed the line of the 400 meters in 49.79 seconds, a significant PR for the junior. Nytes currently leads the decathlon with 4,261 points.

Zach Lorbeck earned personal best marks in all five decathlon events of the day in an impressive season debut. Zach Lorbeck came out strong in the first event of the day with a personal best of 10.87 seconds in the 100 meter hurdles. Lorbeck continued, earning two more PR's in the long jump and shot put. The Green Bay, Wis. native jumped a distance of 23-11 3/4 (7.31m) in the long jump and threw the top mark of all competitors in the shot put with a huge personal best of 47-1 3/4 (14.37m). Lorbeck also tied for third overall in the high jump with a clearance of 6-9 1/2 (2.07m) and ran 52.18 in the 400 meters to close out the day's events. At the end of the first day, Lorbeck currently sits at fourth overall with 4,114 points.

Senior Sawyer Smith opened up competition at the Bryan Clay Invite with a time of 10.93 in the 100 meters, just shy of his personal best. Smith earned a personal best in the high jump with a clearance of 6-6 (1.98m) and came close to his best mark in the 400 meters, crossing the line in 49.75. In the shot put, Smith put up a toss measuring 44-3 1/4 (13.49m) and finished eighth overall in the long jump with a mark of 23-6 (7.16m). Smith rounds out the first day of competition with 4,039 points and sits at fifth overall.

Paul Afflitto started out the day running the 100 meters in 11.04 seconds, and then went on to jump 22-1 (6.73m) in the long jump. Next, Afflitto threw 39-7 1/4 (12.07m) in the shot put and cleared the bar set at 6-1 1/4 (1.86m) in the high jump. In the last event of the day, Afflitto crossed the line of the 400 meters in a time of 49.72. Afflitto ends the day with a score of 3,720 and is currently 18th overall.

The four multi-event athletes will resume the decathlon on Thursday at the Bryan Clay Invitational while a few Badgers will compete in the 5000 meters at the invite. In addition, UW will have athletes competing at the Mt. SAC Relays on Thursday.

2018 Bryan Clay Invite
Asuza, Calif.
April 18, 2018

Men's Results:
Decathlon 100 Meters
2.     Zach Ziemek – 10.72
5.     Zach Lorbeck – 10.87
6.     Sawyer Smith – 10.93
11.     Paul Afflitto – 11.04
12.     Trent Nytes – 11.08

Decathlon Long Jump
3. Zach Ziemek - 24-1 (7.34m)
4. Zach Lorbeck - 23-11 3/4 (7.31m)
4. Trent Nytes - 23-11 3/4 (7.31)
8. Sawyer Smith - 23-6 (7.16m)
22. Paul Afflitto - 22-1 (6.73m)

Decathlon Shot Put
1. Zach Lorbeck - 47-1 3/4 (14.37m)
5. Trent Nytes - 45-8 1/2 (13.93m)
7. Zach Ziemek - 44-10 3/4 (13.68m)
9. Sawyer Smith - 44-3 1/4 (13.49m)
22. Paul Afflitto - 39-7 1/4 (12.07m)

Decathlon High Jump
1.Trent Nytes - 7-2 1/4 (2.19)
3. Zach Lorbeck - 6-9 1/2 (2.07m)
3. Zach Ziemek - 6-9 1/2 (2.07m)
8. Sawyer Smith - 6-6 (1.98m)
29. Paul Afflitto - 6-1 1/4 (1.86m)

Decathlon 400 Meters
8. Sawyer Smith - 49.69
9. Paul Afflitto - 49.72
10. Trent Nytes - 49.79
14. Zach Ziemek - 50.03
38. Zach Lorbeck - 52.18

Decathlon Standings
1. Trent Nytes - 4,261
3. Zach Ziemek - 4,210
4. Zach Lorbeck - 4,114
5. Sawyer Smith - 4,039
18. Paul Afflitto - 3,720