Three athletes train to compete in pentathlon and heptathlon
Autumn Stephens
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Sports
For some track athletes, competing in several events during one meet is normal. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary states that pentathlon and heptathlon come from Greek origins: penta, meaning five; hepta, meaning seven; and athlon, meaning competition.
"You have to be able to do all of them," Matt Smalley, senior, said. "Shot put, long jump, high jump, hurdles and 1000 meter run."
The only difference in a female pentathlon is the distance in the run which is only 800 meters. Latasha Moore, junior, has only competed in the pentathlon once, but said she enjoyed it very much.
"I think that the pentathlon is a fun event because I like to try different events at track meets and this is a good way to do it," said Moore.
Smalley said, "There are so many different events to train for and 75 percent of the time I have never practiced or competed in the event, so it's something new."
"In practice I could work on high jump one day," Moore said, "And then hurdles the next. It gets really interesting."
Smalley and Moore agreed already knowing how to do the event helped them when it came time for competition.
"All areas are important, but the jumps and the hurdles get you the most points, so if you know how to do those things, then you will do fine," Moore said.
Both also said it is not very tiring while doing the events. However, Smalley said his legs were sore the next day from the 1000-meter run.
"Overall it's a lot of fun, pretty laid back," Smalley said.
Steven Hughes, senior, competes in the heptathlon which is a two day event. Day one consist of a 60 meter dash, long jump, shot put and high jump and day two consist of 60 meter high hurdles, pole vault and the 1000 meter run.
"You have to have basic knowledge of all of the areas in order to succeed," Hughes said. "I spend most of my time working on the hurdling, throwing, and vaulting because those are the three events that I just learned last year."
Training for the heptathlon is hectic, Hughes said, but the variety of strength training lifts and technique training sprints keep him occupied.
"While throwers focus on some of the lifts that are specific for throwing or jumpers focus on the lifts specific for jumping, I have to focus on all of the lifts," Hughes said.
Hughes said the heptathlon can get tiring, especially the second day of events.
"You don't really feel the effect that doing four events in a matter of hours has on your legs the first day," Hughes said. "When the time comes to compete in the last event I can really tell that my legs are tired."
Hughes said, "I found out that [competing in a heptathlon] is a lot of fun. I have never met or competed against anyone who did not enjoy doing it."
"You have to be able to do all of them," Matt Smalley, senior, said. "Shot put, long jump, high jump, hurdles and 1000 meter run."
The only difference in a female pentathlon is the distance in the run which is only 800 meters. Latasha Moore, junior, has only competed in the pentathlon once, but said she enjoyed it very much.
"I think that the pentathlon is a fun event because I like to try different events at track meets and this is a good way to do it," said Moore.
Smalley said, "There are so many different events to train for and 75 percent of the time I have never practiced or competed in the event, so it's something new."
"In practice I could work on high jump one day," Moore said, "And then hurdles the next. It gets really interesting."
Smalley and Moore agreed already knowing how to do the event helped them when it came time for competition.
"All areas are important, but the jumps and the hurdles get you the most points, so if you know how to do those things, then you will do fine," Moore said.
Both also said it is not very tiring while doing the events. However, Smalley said his legs were sore the next day from the 1000-meter run.
"Overall it's a lot of fun, pretty laid back," Smalley said.
Steven Hughes, senior, competes in the heptathlon which is a two day event. Day one consist of a 60 meter dash, long jump, shot put and high jump and day two consist of 60 meter high hurdles, pole vault and the 1000 meter run.
"You have to have basic knowledge of all of the areas in order to succeed," Hughes said. "I spend most of my time working on the hurdling, throwing, and vaulting because those are the three events that I just learned last year."
Training for the heptathlon is hectic, Hughes said, but the variety of strength training lifts and technique training sprints keep him occupied.
"While throwers focus on some of the lifts that are specific for throwing or jumpers focus on the lifts specific for jumping, I have to focus on all of the lifts," Hughes said.
Hughes said the heptathlon can get tiring, especially the second day of events.
"You don't really feel the effect that doing four events in a matter of hours has on your legs the first day," Hughes said. "When the time comes to compete in the last event I can really tell that my legs are tired."
Hughes said, "I found out that [competing in a heptathlon] is a lot of fun. I have never met or competed against anyone who did not enjoy doing it."
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