Nixon wins USA Junior decathlon title

FAYETTEVILLE – In a continuation of his season, Gunnar Nixon won the decathlon title Saturday at the 2012 USA Junior Track and Field Championships. The Razorback freshman posted a final score of 7,760 points for the two-day, 10-event competition. With his victory, Nixon has qualified to represent Team USA at the IAAF World Junior Championships in July.

Nixon will be joined at the international meet by future teammate Jarrion Lawson who won the USA Junior title in the triple jump Saturday. Lawson is a member of Arkansas’ 2012-13 signing class. In other Arkansas results Saturday, Devin Randall finished in ninth place in the shot put. The three-day meet is being held this weekend at the Robert C. Haugh Complex in Bloomington, Ind.

Entering the day in first place, Nixon extended his lead over the final five events of the decathlon. He began Saturday with a pair of runner-up finishes in the 110-meter hurdles (14.34) and pole vault (4.40m/14-5.25), and a third-place result in the discus (41.76m/137-0). In the javelin, Nixon unleashed a personal-best toss of 59.31m/194-7 for his first win of the day.

Nixon finished more than 300 points clear of his nearest competition, runner-up Garrett Scantling of Georgia. Nixon set two personal bests during the weekend with his efforts in the javelin and high jump Friday. This marks the second-consecutive season an Arkansas freshman has won the USA junior title in the decathlon. Kevin Lazas won the event last year.

Lawson won his second title in as many days with his victory in the triple jump. He finished Saturday with a winning mark of 15.64m/51-3.75. Lawson entered the final round of jumps in second place but posted his best mark of the day on his sixth and final attempt to clinch the title. He began the weekend Friday with a win in the long jump.

In his first of two scheduled events this weekend, Randall finished ninth in the shot put competition. His best mark of 17.58m/57-8.25 happened in the second round of throws. Randall finished fourth in flight one but did not advance to the seven-man final. Like the decathlon, competitors in the shot put were using junior-size implements. Randall will return to action Sunday for the discus.

The 2012 USA Junior Track and Field Championships is a showcase event for high school standouts and top college freshmen. The meet will serve as a qualifier for this year’s IAAF World Junior Championships that will be contested July 10-15 in Barcelona, Spain. The top-two finishers in each event who meet qualifying standards will be invited to compete for Team USA.

For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Saturday Results
Decathlon (day two/final)
1. Gunnar Nixon – 7,760 points
    2. 110mH – 14.34 (931 points)
    3. Discus – 41.76m/137-0 (700 points)
    2. Pole vault – 4.40m/14-5.25 (731 points)
    1. Javelin – 59.31m/194-7 (PR) (727 points)
    9. 1,500m – 4:51.58 (609 points)

Shot Put
9. Devin Randall – 17.58m/57-8.25

Triple Jump
1. Jarrion Lawson* – 15.64m/51-3.75

* 2012-13 signee