Dakotah Keys, the former Sweet Home track and field star, won the PAC-12 decathlon championship Sunday at Hayward Field in Eugene, scoring a personal-best 7,793 points.
Keys and UCLA’s Marcus Nilsson waged a back-and-forth battle early before Keys pulled away to win the title.
“It all came together and ended up working out,” said Keys. “Marcus (Nilsson) was ahead but I stayed cool throughout the pole vault and kept going and it worked out.
“I can’t really believe it yet, but it’s what I was hoping for. It hasn’t soaked in yet but I am very excited.
Keys opened day two by running 14.88 in the 110 meter hurdles. Nilsson then slipped into the lead by winning the discus with a throw of 139-7. Keys set a personal best in the event with a throw of 121-1 to stay close.
Keys then retook the lead for good in the pole vault by tying his decathlon best with a clearance at 15-9. He put a lock on the meet with a big throw in the javelin of 207-11. That was just off his personal best, but was good enough to build an insurmountable 300-point lead.
He closed the long day two with a personal-best in the 1,500 of 4:33.84 to give Oregon its eighth decathlon title in the last 12 years. Nilsson was second with 7,539 points.
During the first day of the 10-event competition, Keys won the long jump (23-7½) and the high jump in a personal-best 6-9. He was second to Nilsson, a native of Sweden, 47-4.
Keys moved up to No. 6 on the 2012 NCAA charts, and seventh on the UO career list.