June 23, 2008

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Miami University freshman Michael McCarty finished eighth in the decathlon at the United States Junior Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which took place on Friday and Saturday in Columbus, Ohio.

McCarty set a personal best score of 6,513 with marks that included PR's in the long jump at 22-5, high jump at 6-3 ¼, and the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.78.

The product of Hudson, Ohio also scored well in the javelin with a throw of 128-2, the 400-meters at 50.12, the 100 meter dash at 11.57, and the shot put at 40-6. He also cleared 10-11 ¾ in the pole vault and hit 40-6 in the shot put and 95-11 in the discus.

As required by the USATF, competitors in the junior competition threw slightly lighter weights in the shot put and discus than at NCAA competitions.

McCarty finished his freshman campaign at Miami by placing third in the decathlon at the MAC Championships at Bowling Green in May with a score of 6,312.