TAC Track and Field Meet : Decathlete Johnson Wins Big; Heptathlete Frederick Retires

Dave Johnson produced the highest score by an American decathlete in 13 years Wednesday night at The Athletics Congress Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Johnson, 26, accumulated 8,549 points in the 10-event, two-day competition at the University of Houston’s Robertson Stadium to become the second-best performer in U.S. history, behind Bruce Jenner. Jenner totaled 8,634 points in the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

The world record is 8,847 points, set by two-time Olympic gold medalist Daley Thompson of Britain in the 1984 Olympics at Los Angeles.

Sheldon Blockburger finished second with 8,248 points, a career best. He was followed by Olympian Gary Kinder with 8,155 and NCAA champion Derek Huff of Arizona with 8,018.

In the heptathlon, Jolanda Jones took advantage of the absence of Jane Frederick to win for the first time.

Frederick had held a commanding lead after Tuesday’s events, but she was forced to withdraw Wednesday and said her 25-year career was over.

Frederick, 37, pulled out because of intense pain in her left Achilles’ tendon.

“You don’t know how much I hate giving this meet to anyone,” Frederick, the eight-time national champion and two-time Olympian, said. “This meet was mine.”