SPU Track Coach Sets American Record in Winning Masters Decathlon
August 23, 2004

NEOSHO, Mo. (Aug. 23) ­ Jack Hoyt, the head coach of track and field at Seattle Pacific University, broke the American record in winning the National Masters Decathlon title.

Hoyt's 10-event total of 7693 points was 341 points better than the previous mark for the age 40-plus division, set in 1997. He also tied the masters decathlon pole vault record by clearing 15 feet, 1 inch.

Hoyt, who had won a U.S. masters title in the high jump earlier this month, said he felt fortunate, especially after being sidelined with a strained calf in early July.

"My second day of competition went really well," he said. "Some of those marks would've pleased me even back in my prime."

His pole vault was 13 inches above his collegiate best while his javelin throw of 176 feet was just 6 inches off his top mark at SPU in 1987.