EUGENE, Ore. – Former Wisconsin track and field standout Zach Ziemek earned a spot on Team USA for the 2024 Olympic Games after finishing second in the decathlon with a score of 8,516 points.
This marks Ziemeks' third time making a US Olympic roster in the decathlon after competing in the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing seventh with 8,392 points, and appearing in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, where he placed sixth with 8,435 points.
Decathlon Day One
After the first day of the decathlon, Ziemek sat second overall with 4,477 points after setting personal best marks in the 100 meters and shot put.
The Itasca, Illinois, native led the competition through three events after winning the 100 meters with a time of 10.46 seconds, finishing second in the long jump with a distance of 24 feet, 6 ¼ inches (7.47m) and finishing second in the shot put with a mark of 51-11 ¼ (15.83m). In the final two events on day one, "Double Z" picked up a third-place finish in the high jump with a clearance of 6-10 ¾ (2.10m) and finished 13th in the 400-meters, crossing at 49.72.
Decathlon Day Two
Ziemek kicked off the second day of competition with a 13th-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles at 14.81 seconds. He then earned back-to-back first-place finishes in the discus throw and pole vault, with marks of 163-7 (49.87m) and 17-6 ½ (5.35m), respectively, moving him back to the top of the leaderboard with two events remaining.
After a javelin throw of 184-6 (56.24m) Ziemek capped off the decathlon with a time of 4:53.65 in the 1500 meters to finish second overall.
Ziemek is the 11th Badger to qualify for the 2024 Olympics, joining: Mohammed Ahmed (men's track - Team Canada), Phoebe Bacon (women's swimming) Lauren Carlini (volleyball), Grace Joyce (women's rowing), Alev Kelter (women's rugby), Lauren O'Connor (women's rowing), Dana Rettke (women's volleyball), Taiko Torepe-Ormsby (men's swimming - New Zealand), Maddie Wanamaker (women's rowing) and Sophia Vitas (women's rowing).
2024 US Olympic Trials
June 21-22, 2024
Hayward Field
Eugene, Oregon
Decathlon results
2. Zach Ziemek - 8516 points
Decathlon 100 meters
1. Ziemek - 10.46 PB
Decathlon 400 meters
13. Ziemek - 49.72
1500 meters
10. Ziemek - 4:53.65
110-meter hurdles
13. Ziemek - 14.81
Discus
1. Ziemek - 163-7 (49.87m)
High jump
3. Ziemek - 6-10 ¾ (2.10m)
Javelin
7. Ziemek - 184-6 (56.24m)
Long jump
2. Ziemek - 24-6 ¼ (7.47m)
Pole Vault
1. Ziemek - 17-6 ½ (5.35m)
Shot put
2. Ziemek - 51-11 ¼ (15.83m) PB
