Garland Goes Big To Win Decathlon Title At USATF Championships
EUGENE, Ore. — Former Bulldog champion Kyle Garland moved to No. 3 on the all-time American list in the decathlon after winning by 462 points at the 2025 Toyota USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore., on Friday.
Garland, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., scored a personal best 8,869 points to move to No. 10 on the world’s all-time list in the combined events. He will now represent Team USA in the decathlon at the coming World Athletics Championships (details below).
Garland, whose nickname is the “Freight Train”, posted a season best of 13.78 to win the 110-meter hurdles; a personal best (50.93 meters/167 feet, 1 inch) for first in the discus; a clearance of 4.80m/15-9 for fourth in the pole vault; a personal best of 65.52m/214-11 to win the javelin; and a 4:54.50 in the dec’s conclusion, the 1500m.
In the first five events, Garland took a sizable lead, scoring 4,714 points with the nearest competitor at 4,378 after completion of the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m. Garland was second in the 100m thanks to a personal best 10.44 before winning the long jump with a season-best effort of 7.89m/25-10.75. His third event was another PR with a shot put toss of 16.95m/55-7.50 before traveling 2.14m/7-0.25 in the high jump. Garland wrapped up his Thursday with 49.29 for seventh in the 400m.
“I want everyone to come on and bring their best game,” Garland told dyestat.com about the coming World Championships. “Because I know I’m coming with mine, too. The world better watch out because the Freight Train’s coming.”
Former Georgia champion Lynna Irby-Jackson was the fifth overall qualifier in the women’s 400m with a 50.59 and will now ready for the next round. Not far behind the former Lady Bulldog was current Lady Bulldog Aaliyah Butler, who qualified in the eighth spot with a 50.77. Current assistant coach Bailey Lear missed the qualification by two spots with a 51.03.
Bulldog medal winners so far have included former Georgia champion Marc Minichello (javelin – bronze) at the Championships.
In more action Friday, former Bulldog Elija Godwin was 12th (45.63) in the first round of the 400m while another former Georgia runner, Will Sumner, clocked a personal record 45.06 for 10th. Also, former Bulldog Kendal Williams ran a 10.16 in the 100m semifinal and was 13th while current Lady Bulldogs Kaila Jackson and Jassani Carter were 11th (11.21) and 12th (11.22), respectively, in the women’s 100m semifinal.
The USATF Championships arrive just over a month before the World Athletics Championships are scheduled in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 13-21. Those Americans competing at the USATF Championships will have the opportunity to make Team USA during this week’s meet. Georgia director of track and field, Caryl Smith Gilbert, has already been named the head coach of the Team USA women in Tokyo.
How To Keep Up With The Bulldogs: News and updates from Georgia’s track and field and cross country teams are located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
Garland, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., scored a personal best 8,869 points to move to No. 10 on the world’s all-time list in the combined events. He will now represent Team USA in the decathlon at the coming World Athletics Championships (details below).
Garland, whose nickname is the “Freight Train”, posted a season best of 13.78 to win the 110-meter hurdles; a personal best (50.93 meters/167 feet, 1 inch) for first in the discus; a clearance of 4.80m/15-9 for fourth in the pole vault; a personal best of 65.52m/214-11 to win the javelin; and a 4:54.50 in the dec’s conclusion, the 1500m.
In the first five events, Garland took a sizable lead, scoring 4,714 points with the nearest competitor at 4,378 after completion of the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump and 400m. Garland was second in the 100m thanks to a personal best 10.44 before winning the long jump with a season-best effort of 7.89m/25-10.75. His third event was another PR with a shot put toss of 16.95m/55-7.50 before traveling 2.14m/7-0.25 in the high jump. Garland wrapped up his Thursday with 49.29 for seventh in the 400m.
“I want everyone to come on and bring their best game,” Garland told dyestat.com about the coming World Championships. “Because I know I’m coming with mine, too. The world better watch out because the Freight Train’s coming.”
Former Georgia champion Lynna Irby-Jackson was the fifth overall qualifier in the women’s 400m with a 50.59 and will now ready for the next round. Not far behind the former Lady Bulldog was current Lady Bulldog Aaliyah Butler, who qualified in the eighth spot with a 50.77. Current assistant coach Bailey Lear missed the qualification by two spots with a 51.03.
Bulldog medal winners so far have included former Georgia champion Marc Minichello (javelin – bronze) at the Championships.
In more action Friday, former Bulldog Elija Godwin was 12th (45.63) in the first round of the 400m while another former Georgia runner, Will Sumner, clocked a personal record 45.06 for 10th. Also, former Bulldog Kendal Williams ran a 10.16 in the 100m semifinal and was 13th while current Lady Bulldogs Kaila Jackson and Jassani Carter were 11th (11.21) and 12th (11.22), respectively, in the women’s 100m semifinal.
The USATF Championships arrive just over a month before the World Athletics Championships are scheduled in Tokyo, Japan, on Sept. 13-21. Those Americans competing at the USATF Championships will have the opportunity to make Team USA during this week’s meet. Georgia director of track and field, Caryl Smith Gilbert, has already been named the head coach of the Team USA women in Tokyo.
How To Keep Up With The Bulldogs: News and updates from Georgia’s track and field and cross country teams are located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.
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