EUGENE, Ore. (KMTR) -- Ashton Eaton broke the world record in the decathlon Saturday, finishing with 9,039 points at the U.S. Olympic trials to beat Roman Sebrle's eleven-year-old mark by thirteen points.
Eaton, 24, from Bend, Oregon, graduated from the University of Oregon in 2010. He needed a time of 4:16.37 in the 1500 meter finale to break the mark; he finished in 4:14.48.
"All I could think was, this is happening, this is happening - right now!" Eaton said afterward. "For it to happen . . . emotions come out, it's hard to explain."
Eaton opened the decathlon Friday with world-best marks for the decathlon in the 100 m and long jump. He stayed in striking range of Sebrle's world record of 9,026 points throughout Day 2.
On this, the 100th anniversary of the first time the decathlon was held in the Olympics, Eaton joined Bruce Jenner, Dan O'Brien and Rafer Johnson among the Americans to hold the world record.
Both Jenner and O'Brien were in attendance at Hayward on Saturday, and O'Brien was the first to congratulate Eaton on breaking the record.
Trey Hardee finished second in the competition.
