By DAN BARILE
Eagle Times Correspondent
WEATHERSFIELD, Vt. — The 14th Annual Southern Vermont Decathlon was one for the ages, with a total of 10 records being set on Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11.
Green Mountain Union High School alum Grace Tyrrell shone in the women’s competition, winning seven events and setting a new overall scoring record with 6,237 points. Tyrrell, who currently competes in track & field for Stonehill College, set event records in the 100-meter dash, 400-meter dash, 110-meter low hurdles, long jump and vertical jump.
Also breaking the previous overall scoring record set by Stephanie Pierce in 2013 was Abbey Otterbein, who posted 5,484 points. Otterbein put her versatility on full display by placing second in eight events. Three-time champion Jess Curtis of Springfield also competed, placing third and winning shot put, discus and keg toss.
In the men’s competition, Liam Evans and Evan Koch were entangled in a fierce battle at the top of the standings for the second straight year. After falling to Koch by just 100 points in last year’s decathlon, Evans returned the favor, defeating Koch by 103 points while breaking Koch’s overall scoring record from a year ago. Evans had strong performances across the board, finishing second in nine events and third in another on his way to recording 9,051 points. Koch was spectacular on the track and in the jumps, winning all six events, but he was unable to overcome Evans’ prowess in the throwing events.
Rounding out the top five for the men were Garrett Evans, Liam Byrne and three-time champion Brian Lashway, of Charlestown, New Hampshire. Byrne shattered the previous event records in shot put, discus, and keg toss, and also won the vortex football throw.
Men’s Results
1) Liam Evans (9,051
2) Evan Koch (8,948)
3) Garrett Evans (8,239)
4) Liam Byrne (8,047)
5) Brian Lashway (7,517)
6) Shane Mas (7,390)
7) John Barton (4,098)
8) Isaiah Tyrrell (3,796)
9) Ethan Huffer (3,495)
Women’s Results
1) Grace Tyrrell (6,237)
2) Abbey Otterbein (5,484)
3) Jess Curtis (4,233)
Event Winners
100-meter dash
Men: Evan Koch (11.75)
Women: Grace Tyrrell (13.33)
110-meter low hurdles
Men: Evan Koch (14.45)
Women: Grace Tyrrell (17.22)
400-meter dash
Men: Evan Koch (55.02)
Women: Grace Tyrrell (1:01:60)
1 mile run
Men: Evan Koch (5:20.91)
Women: Grace Tyrrell (6:52.32)
Long Jump
Men: Evan Koch (19’11”)
Women: Grace Tyrrell (15’4″)
Vertical Jump
Men: Evan Koch (31.75″)
Women: Grace Tyrrell (24″)
Keg Toss
Men: Liam Byrne (41’8″)
Women: Jess Curtis (13’8″)
Vortex Football Throw
Men: Liam Byrne (234’3″)
Women: Grace Tyrrell (116’0″)
Shot Put
Men: Liam Byrne (62’2.5″)
Women: Jess Curtis (30’2″)
Discus
Men: Liam Byrne (186’6″)
Women: Jess Curtis (89’8″)
