Talbot Wins Jim Click Decathlon, as Spartans Wrap Up Action in Tucson and Miami

EAST LANSING, Mich. – Three Michigan State track and field athletes finished competition on Friday afternoon, as Ryan Talbot and Heath Baldwin finished first and second in the men's decathlon at the Jim Click Shootout in Tucson, Ariz., while Quiara Wheeler posted a pair of top-4 placings at the Hurricane Alumni Invitational in Coral Gables, Fla.

The multi-event duo of Baldwin and Talbot used a strong final day, with Baldwin winning the 110m hurdles race and Talbot claiming the top spot in the pole vault, to tally up a meet-best 7677 points for Talbot and 7604 points by Baldwin that put him as the runner-up. Down in Florida, Wheeler was able to land her afternoon high in both the hammer and discus on her final attempt in each event.

Baldwin and Talbot opened decathlon action on Thursday, ending the first day in Arizona with Baldwin leading decathletes at 3989 points and Talbot behind in third with 3899 points. The first day of the Jim Click Shootout began with Talbot running a 10.74 time in the 100m dash to place second, while Baldwin was 13th with a 11.44, and the long jump saw Baldwin finish seventh at 6.98m and Talbot take ninth at 6.89m.

Baldwin put together strong performances later on Thursday in the shot put and high jump, placing second in the shot put at 14.37m and taking first in the high jump at 2.08m. For Talbot, his 11.61m shot put throw put him 14th, and he placed 11th in the high jump at 1.90m. Talbot got back on track in the 400m, crossing the finish line in second at 48.29, and Baldwin was able to place 10th with a personal-record 50.62 time.

Friday saw Baldwin open the second half of events with a 14.54 time in the 110m hurdles that earned him first place in the race, while Talbot was 12th at 15.38. Talbot then set a PR in the discus throw, placing second with a 43.91m toss, and Baldwin used a 34.14m toss to place 14th in the event.

The pole vault catapulted Talbot to the top of the decathlon standings, as he posted a 5.20m personal-record vault to place first in the event, with Baldwin also setting a new PR with a 4.80m vault to put him third. The two followed that with the javelin throw, as Baldwin placed second at 58.49m and Talbot took fourth at 54.79m. Finishing the decathlon with the 1500m race, Baldwin placed seventh with a 4:53.41 time and Talbot ran a 4:53.41 to take eighth, clinching the top spots in the decathlon standings.

For Wheeler, she got her farthest toss of the afternoon on her sixth attempt in the women's hammer throw in Miami, registering a distance of 61.44m to place second behind Oklahoma's Lauren Jones, the reigning Big 12 champion.

Wheeler continued her day with the women's discus throw, as her sixth attempt in that event also ended up being her meet high at 49.00m, good enough to earn a fourth-place result.

Michigan State continues the outdoor season next week at the Louisville Invite, April 15-16.

Talbot Wins Jim Click Decathlon, as Spartans Wrap Up Action in Tucson and Miami

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Players Mentioned

Heath Baldwin

Ryan Talbot

Quiara Wheeler