History and Statistics NSW Decathlon and Heptathlon

11 January 2022

History and Statistics NSW Decathlon and Heptathlon

NSW has a great tradition and history in Combined events. In recent decades it has been a key event in the development and pathway for our Australian representatives. Little Athletics are encouraged to try many events and not concentrate on one too early, often leading athletes into the Combined events in the developing years. Recent stars Jane Jamieson, Alysha Burnett, Jake Stein and Alec Diamond started their pathway in the sport in Little Athletics.

Ahead of the 90th NSW decathlon and 69th NSW heptathlon titles this weekend, we reflect on the greats to have competed in the events.

Leading NSW heptathletes in history

The two great NSW all rounders were undoubtedly Helen Frith (Norths) and Jane Jamieson (Wests). During a tremendous career, which continued as a master athlete in recent years, Frith (now Searle) competed at two Olympics and two Commonwealth Games. She won three Commonwealth Games medals in the jumps and competed in the inaugural Olympic Pentathlon, in 1964, placing 11th. Domestically she won seven NSW and five Australian Pentathlon titles.

In the ‘90s Jane Jamieson emerged and compiled one of the most amazing international records. She won five medals, including three gold at the World University Games and Commonwealth Games. She also contested two Olympics and competed at the World Championships, World Indoors, World Juniors and World Cup. She won four Australian Heptathlon titles and also claimed medals in the long and high jump. She even claimed a national javelin title. Her highest score of 6354 points was achieved at the 1998 Commonwealth Games where she won silver. Arguably her finest performance was on her home track at the Sydney Olympics, where she placed a brilliant 10th.

Since Jamieson, two heptathletes have been outstanding, Commonwealth Games representatives Sophie Stanwell and Alysha Burnett. Stanwell, from Newcastle, competed at the 2013 World University and a year later just missed the podium at the Commonwealth Games placing fourth. She also won two national and two State titles. Alysha Burnett has compiled a long international career, six Australian teams since 2013, which included a silver at the 2017 World University Games. She has also been on the podium four times at nationals in the heptathlon, including gold in 2017.

Leading NSW decathletes in history

The two greatest NSW decathletes were Sutherland pair Geoff Smith and Peter Hadfield. Smith won three NSW and three Australian titles between 1967 and 1970, before claiming the Commonwealth Games titles in 1970, with a score of 7492 points. His personal best tally of 7587, an Australian record, was achieved at the NSW Championships, held in January 1970 on the cinders track at the Sydney Athletics Field. The next month a young athlete, Peter Hadfield, was emerging in the under-16 discus at the NSW Age Championships. Six years later, aged 20, Peter Hadfield arrived as a decathlete scoring a massive score of 7647 in the 1975 NSW decathlon championship, breaking Smith’s Australian record. For the next decade Hadfield would dominate the Australian multi-event scene, winning nine Australian titles and competing at two Olympics and two Commonwealth Games. Hadfield won a Commonwealth Games silver medal and never scored below 7440 in his five international championships decathlons. His personal best was scored in 1984 in Adelaide, when he tallied 8090 points.

Another of NSW’s best multi eventers was Peter Mullins in the ‘40s. Mullins won the 1947 and 1948 NSW titles, but was a genuine all rounder. Although he never won a national medal in the decathlon, he amazingly won Australian Championship medals in the high jump, pole vault, 110m hurdles and shot. He also placed sixth at the London Olympics with a tremendous score of 6334 points (current tables).

In recent years leading decathletes have been Clay Tompkins, Peter Banks, Anthony Hough, Matt Harris, Kyle Cranston, Jake Stein and Alec Diamond. Tompkins (UTS Norths), who competed in masters athletics in recent years, won three NSW titles and three Australian championships medals in the ‘70s. In the ‘80s and early ’90s Anthony Hough, father of hurdler Nick, was one of NSW’s finest decathletes claiming three national silver medals and scored a best of 7676 points, the fourth highest in NSW history. Former NSW record holder, Peter Banks UTS Norths), who scored 7915 points to win the 1997 national title, placed fifth at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. Between 2009 and 2014, Matt Harris won six consecutive titles. Kyle Cranston won the 2017 World University Games and was fifth at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, along with two NSW titles. Jake Stein in the early 2010’s won the World Youth Octathlon and a silver at the 2012 World juniors, along with the national title in 2014 and selection for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. In the mid’2010s Alec Diamond emerged and has won two States titles and that silver in the 2019 World university Games and with his 8000 score in 2021 claimed the NSW record.

Recent NSW Combined-Event Champions
Heptathlon – Open Women

2022 69th edition

2021 Chloe Davis (UTN) 4287

2020 Chloe Davis (UTN) 4280

2019 Alysha Burnett (CHE) 5689

2018 Alysha Burnett (CHE) 5758 [Celeste Mucci VIC 5870]

2017 Veronica Torr (BAN) 5634

2016 Alysha Burnett (CHE) 5343

2015 Jacqui Fry (SYU) 4674

2014 Sophie Stanwell (MQH) 5655

2013 Sophie Stanwell (MQH) 4878

2012 Joanne Waring (HIL) 4436

2011 Stephanie Langridge (SYU) 4623

2010 Jessica Fisher (HIL) 4488 [Lauren Foote SA 5590]

2009 Jessica Fisher (HIL) 4913

2008 Jessica Fisher (HIL) 4327

2007 Danielle Senior (UTS) 4798

2006 Jane Jamieson (ASW) 5776

2005 Gillian Ragus (SYU) 5573

2004 Gillian Ragus (SYU) 5478

2003 Mandy Heath [UTN?]5119

2002 Melissa Tucker (HIL) 4608

2001 Melissa Tucker (HIL) 4651

2000 Virginia Young [SYU?] 5239

1999 Virginia Young [SYU] 5125

1998 Fleur Castlereagh [SUT] 4205

1997 Melissa Bransgrove [MAS] 3966

Decathlon – Open Men

2022 90th edition

2021 Sam Taylor (NEW) 6460

2020 Donald Ohmer (PAR) 4603

2019 Lachlan McPherson (ANSW) 6314 [Matthew Wecker ACT 6485]

2018 Alec Diamond (UTN) 7592

2017 Alec Diamond (UTN) 6557

2016 Kyle Cranston (ASW) 7703

2015 Kyle Cranston (ASW) 7401

2014 Matthew Harris (MAI) 7054

2013 Matthew Harris (MAI) 6984

2012 Matthew Harris (MAI) 6487 [Martin Brockman GBR 7493]

2011 Matthew Harris (MAI) 6527 [Jarrod Simms SA 7215]

2010 Matthew Harris (MAI) 6368 [Jarrod Simms SA 7127]

2009 Matthew Harris (MAI) 6166

2008 Michael Barber (HIL) 5446

2007 Daniel Lawton (FOS) 5877

2006 Michael Barber (HIL) 4937

2005 James Russell (WOL) 6358

2004 Scott Burriss (WES) 6903

2003 Darrell Muzyczka (HIL) 7037

2002 Jason Quelch (UTN) 6515

2001 Andrew Coulter (SUT?) 6357

2000 Darrell Muzyczka (HIL) 6828

1999 Mitch McGrath (SUT) 6394

1998 John Deery [SUT?] 6421

1997 Peter Banks [UTN] 7459

Most Titles

MEN

6 – Matthew Harris (MAI)

5 – Peter Hadfield (SUT)

4 – Geoff Goodacre (RK)

3 – Grant Newey (WS)

3 – Geoff Jones (RBH)

3 – Clay Tompkins (NS)

3 – Geoff Smith (SUT)

3 – Syd Stenner (POL)

WOMEN

7 – Helen Frith (NS/Mid-West)

4 – Diane Pease (WS)

3 – Virginia Young (UTN/SYU)

3 – Christine Booth (Cumberland)

3 – Sue New (Cumberland/SS)

3 – Lesley Richards (NS)

3 – Louse McPaul (IBS)

3 – Jessica Fisher (HIL)

3 – Alysha Burnett (CHE)

Records

MEN

9279. Alec Diamond 8000 (2021)

Meet record Peter Hadfield 7826 (1979)

WOMEN

NSW Jane Jamieson 6354 (1998)

Meet record Jane Jamieson 6275 (1996)

First NSW Multi-Event Championships

The first NSW men’s decathlon championship was conducted on March 20 and 21, in 1926. Held at the Sydney Sports Ground, the winner was Charles Spicer of the Kensington club. Spicer, the NSW high jump and decathlon champion, scored 5163 points. Some of his performances were: 1.76m in the high jump, 6.10m long jump and 9.82m shot put.

Results were: 1. Charles Spicer (Kensington) 5163 points, 2. Otto Matson (StG) 5023, 3. Charles Ebert (Botany) 4714, 4. F Matson (StG) 4575.

The first women’s title was held in 1953 after the news from the IAAF that a pentathlon and 800m could be added to the Olympic Games program (eventually they were added in 1964 and 1960, respectively). On February 22 and 23, in 1953, at the Sydney Sports Ground, Gwen Wallace won the inaugural title with a score of 3178 points. During the event, Wallace broke the Australian junior 80m hurdles record with a time of 11.5. The following year, Wallace competed for Australia at the Commonwealth Games where she contested three events. She ran in the heats of the 100m hurdles, was seventh in the long jump and ran in the gold medal winning 4x110 yards relay. She was also selected in the high jump, but did not compete.

Results were: 1. Gwen Wallace (ES) 3178 points, 2. Jacqueline Baumann (StG) 2948, Erica Willis (Novocastrian) 2054 (4 events).

Unlike the men’s decathlon, where the events and title never changed, the women’s multi-event has undergone a few changes. Initially it was a five-event pentathlon including the events 100m hurdles, shot, long jump, high jump and 200m. In the late ‘70s the 200m was replaced with an 800m. Then in the early ‘80s it changed to a seven-event heptathlon.

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Kyle Cranston, Jake Stein and Matthew Harris (courtesy of David Tarbotton)