Fans Welcome To Come On Down At Multi-Event Starting Tonight

The networks call it “up close and personal.”

It is the feel that Idaho track coach Mike Keller is looking to give the USA Multi-Event national indoor championship tonight and Saturday at the Kibbie Dome.

“I think we’re going to encourage people to come down on the infield instead of just staying in the stands,” Keller said. “They can stay in the stands for the running events, but come down for the field events. That should give people a little more feeling of involvement with it.”

What will fans be getting close to?

The heptathlon for men will be headlined by decathlon world record-holder Dan O’Brien, but will also feature three former NCAA decathlon champs and eight athletes who have scored in excess of 7,900 points in the decathlon.

The women’s pentathlon will showcase Kym Carter, last year’s U.S. heptathlon champion, who is considered second only to Jackie Joyner-Kersee in the multi-events.

The meet is a qualifier for the World Indoor championships in Barcelona, Spain, March 11-12.

The women will compete in all five events - the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and 800 meters on Friday night, with action getting under way at 6:30 p.m.

The men will open Friday - at an updated starting time of 5 p.m. - with the 60-meter dash, long jump, shot put and high jump, and finish Saturday (starting at 10:30 a.m.) with the 60 hurdles, pole vault and 1,000 meters. Saturday’s events will be run in conjunction with an all-comers’ meet.

O’Brien owns the world records in the indoor multi-events (heptathlon and pentathlon). Former LSU standout Sheldon Blockburger looks to be O’Brien’s prime competition, but Brian Brophy, Paul Foxson, Drew Fucci and Chris Huffins have topped 8,000 in the decathlon.

Admission is $5.