If you are looking for who can do their first decathlon with a few months of practice, the 18' pole vaulter will win. To jump that high you need to be able to run around 11.0 or better in 100 and long jump close to 22 feet or more without practicing those events. Plus, they already know how to pole vault, which out of the dec events takes the longest to learn. Also most 18 guys are strong enough to pretty good in the throws.If you are going for a world record in the long term you take the long jumper. If they are already over 25' in HS they are probably a 10.5 guy or better in 100, with time could do a fast 400, throws will come with time, and the vault is just long jump with pole in hand once you get the guts to run full speed with it.10.20 100m Dash (This guy may have no coordiantion)20.50 200m Dash (Same as guy above and he may be tiny)45.6 400m Dash (I have seen 400 guys this fast who could not break 21' in long jump, so not nessisairly explosive)All three sprints have to learn to jump which could be a hit or miss.1:48 800m Run (Has only ever been successful once, and that was a Dec that could run the 800, not a 800 guy that went to dec). But if u get a tall guy willing to hit the weights maybe..7'1 High Jump (could be slow)52' Triple Jump (may be close to the long jumper, but some triple jumpers have so many different skill sets and its not even an event)
coaching101 wrote:
Lets say you had to pick one high school national champion out of one event. You only get to see one event per athlete to judge their athletic ability?
On average, who would make the best college decathlete?
10.20 100m Dash
20.50 200m Dash
45.6 400m Dash
1:48 800m Run
18'0 Pole Vault
26' Long Jump
7'1 High Jump
52' Triple Jump
I am going to go with the pole vaulter or the long jumper. Both events take a lot of speed and explosive ability that can be carried through all events. If you look at a lot of college decathletes they were actually pole vaulters because they are usually relatively tall and strong (18' ones at least).