Washington’s Ramos Takes Lead in Pacific 10 Decathlon

Mike Ramos of the University of Washington, going for his third Pacific 10 decathlon championship, grabbed the first-day lead after Monday’s five events at USC’s Cromwell Field and set two conference meet records in the process.

Ramos, a senior who was the Pac-10 decathlon champion in 1983 and 1984, established a first-day conference meet mark with 4,349 points and also set a meet record in the decathlon high jump with a leap of 7 feet, 1 inch.

Carlos Gambetta of Washington State was second after the opening day’s events with 4,110 points. WSU teammate Simon Shirley was third at 4,093, with UCLA’s Jim Connolly fourth at 4,013.

Ramos’ first-day total bettered the Pac-10 meet record of 4,278 set by Arizona State’s Dannie Jackson in 1979.

The final five events of the decathlon will be held today.