April 18, 2002

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Joel Johnson finished first in the decathlon Thursday at the Cal/Nevada Heptathlon/Decathlon Meet in Sacramento, Calif. Johnson, a junior at Utah State University, scored 7586 points, the best score in Utah State history. With his score, Johnson earned an automatic qualification for the NCAA Championships in Baton Rouge, La. this May.

Brad Bair, a senior, finished second at the meet, scoring 6911 points. He is now fifth in the USU record books.

On his way to victory, Johnson set personal bests in the shot put, discuss, javelin, 400-meter and 110-meter hurdles. Bair also set five personal bests in the long jump, discuss, pole vault, 400-meter, and 110-meter hurdles.

The meet featured multi-event athletes from Cal, Chico State, Eastern Washington, Sacramento State, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, Nevada and Utah State.

The Aggie track teams will compete Saturday at the Mark Faldmo Open in Logan, Utah.

Results:

Joel Johnson - First (7586) Brad Bair - Second (6911)